David Burden joined Westminster Abbey as Receiver General in April 1999.

During an Army career in Regimental and staff appointments in UK, Germany, Cyprus and Hong Kong, including NATO and UN posts he specialised latterly in logistics and personnel. After attending the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1988, he was Assistant Chief of Staff in BAOR.

As a Major General he headed a project in the MOD promoting the employment opportunities for service leavers during ' Options for Change' and then formed and was the first head of the Royal Logistic Corps. His final appointment was Military Secretary and Chief Executive of the Army Personnel Centre which he formed in Glasgow.