Arthur Lawson Johnston, 3rd Baron Luke
Encyclopedia
Arthur Charles St John Lawson Johnston, 3rd Baron Luke (born 13 January 1933) is a British
peer and currently Opposition Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport and for Defence. He is one of the ninety hereditary peer
s elected to remain in the House of Lords
after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999
.
The son of the 2nd Baron Luke and Barbara Lloyd-Anstruther, he was educated at Eton College
in Berkshire
and Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in history in 1957. In 1996, he succeeded to his father's title. Johnston worked for the family firm Bovril Ltd
from 1955 to 1971, and has been a fine art dealer in watercolours of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries since 1971. Between 1962 and 1978, he was president of the National Association of Warehouse-keepers, and between 1983 and 1990, Commander
of the St John's Ambulance Brigade. He was appointed High Sheriff of Bedfordshire
in 1969 .
He is further a member of the Court of the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy
, of the Game Conservancy Association and of the Countryside Alliance
. He is a Knight
of the Venerable Order of Saint John
and a Freeman of the City of London
. In 2001 and 2002, he was Master of the Drapers Company, having been a Member of Court since 1993.
Lord Luke married firstly Silvia Maria Roigt in 1959. They divorced in 1971, and he married secondly Sarah Louise Hearne, daughter of the actor Richard Hearne
in 1971. He has one son, Ian James Lawson Johnston and two daughters by his first wife, and one son by his second wife.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer and currently Opposition Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport and for Defence. He is one of the ninety hereditary peer
Hereditary peer
Hereditary peers form part of the Peerage in the United Kingdom. There are over seven hundred peers who hold titles that may be inherited. Formerly, most of them were entitled to sit in the House of Lords, but since the House of Lords Act 1999 only ninety-two are permitted to do so...
s elected to remain in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
.
The son of the 2nd Baron Luke and Barbara Lloyd-Anstruther, he was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history in 1957. In 1996, he succeeded to his father's title. Johnston worked for the family firm Bovril Ltd
Bovril
Bovril is the trademarked name of a thick, salty meat extract, developed in the 1870s by John Lawson Johnston and sold in a distinctive, bulbous jar. It is made in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, owned and distributed by Unilever UK....
from 1955 to 1971, and has been a fine art dealer in watercolours of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries since 1971. Between 1962 and 1978, he was president of the National Association of Warehouse-keepers, and between 1983 and 1990, Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of the St John's Ambulance Brigade. He was appointed High Sheriff of Bedfordshire
High Sheriff of Bedfordshire
-1066–1125:*1066-c.1084: Ansculf de Picquigny*Ralph Taillebois*Hugh de Belcamp*1124 Richard of WinchesterFrom 1125 through the end of 1575, appointees to the shrievalty held the joint office of High Sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.-1575–1599:...
in 1969 .
He is further a member of the Court of the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy
Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy
The Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy is a charity founded in 1655 which provides financial support to clergy of the Church of England.The Corporation was established in 1655 in response to the distress of the large number of clergymen who were dispossessed of their livings under the regime of...
, of the Game Conservancy Association and of the Countryside Alliance
Countryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance is a British organisation promoting issues relating to the countryside such as country sports, including hunting, shooting and angling...
. He is a Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
of the Venerable Order of Saint John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
and a Freeman of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. In 2001 and 2002, he was Master of the Drapers Company, having been a Member of Court since 1993.
Lord Luke married firstly Silvia Maria Roigt in 1959. They divorced in 1971, and he married secondly Sarah Louise Hearne, daughter of the actor Richard Hearne
Richard Hearne
Richard Lewis Hearne, OBE was an English actor, comedian, producer and writer. He was famous for his stage and television character Mr Pastry.-Career:...
in 1971. He has one son, Ian James Lawson Johnston and two daughters by his first wife, and one son by his second wife.