General Lord Richard Dannatt takes the salute as Downham Market Royal British Legion held a parade through the town to mark its 90th anniversary celebration in 2012 - Credit: Matthew Usher Born in Essex, General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL is a retired senior British Army officer and member of the House of Lords. He was chief of the general staff between 2006-2009. He lives just outside of Norwich with his wife Pippa, The Lady Dannatt What is your connection to East Anglia? I was born and brought up in Essex, and met my wife, Pippa Gurney who was born and brought up in Norfolk, when we were both at Durham University.