Tony Poulter served in the Royal Navy throughout the Cold War, spending most of his time in submarines, three of which he commanded.  Awarded an OBE in 1991 and was promoted to captain in 1992, his latter career was spent in more senior shore command appointments with his final appointment being Chief Manpower to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe in Mons, Belgium.  On being placed on the Retired List in 2001, he joined Norfolk Constabulary as the force’s Business Manager.  As part of this second career, he spent time on national policing business with both the Home Office and ACPO assisting with the development of policy on increasing public satisfaction and confidence.  He retired for a second time in 2008. 

Tony Poulter was admitted to the Worshipful Company of Fletchers Company in 1993, was appointed to the Court in 2004 and after election took over as Master in April 2009.  In addition to being a liveryman, he is actively involved with his local church, St John the Evangelist in Rushford, as its Churchwarden and Lay Chairman of the local Parochial Church Council.  He also chairs his Parish Council and sits on the Moving Thetford Board, which is charged with regenerating Thetford and building an additional 6000 new homes by 2021.  His hobbies include tennis, rough shooting, sailing, swimming, travelling, walking his 2 Cavalier King Charles spaniels, model making and DIY.

Born in 1946, he was educated at the Nautical College Pangbourne and joined Dartmouth in 1965.  He married his wife Anne in 1994 and they live in Rushford, Norfolk.