Charles McLaren, 3rd Baron Aberconway
Encyclopedia
Charles Melville McLaren, 3rd Baron Aberconway, JP
(16 April 1913 – 4 February 2003) was a British industrialist and horticulturalist. He was the son of Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway
and Christabel Macnaghten.
, New College, Oxford
, and became a barrister of the Middle Temple
.
, the board of which was chaired by his father. Due to this connection, he took part in a secret, unofficial meeting of British industrialists with Hermann Göring
in Sylt
in 1939. The meeting was authorized by Lord Halifax
and was intended as a last-ditch effort to forestall a German invasion of Poland through concessions. The mission was, of course, a failure; McLaren kept the meeting a secret until 2000.
During the Second World War, he joined the Royal Artillery
, becoming a second lieutenant. After the war, he took a more active role in the family corporations, preparing to succeed his father. He was also a director of Westland Aircraft
from 1947–1985. He was made a Justice of the Peace
for Denbighshire
in 1946, and High Sheriff of Denbighshire
in 1950.
In 1953, he succeeded his father in the barony, the chairmanship of John Brown and English China Clays, and various other industrial interests. He would continue in these chairmanships until 1986 and 1984, respectively. Despite his corporate responsibilities, Lord Aberconway took a keen interest in horticulture. Besides maintaining the family's Bodnant Garden, he was the President of the Royal Horticultural Society
1961–1983 and oversaw the management of the Chelsea Flower Show
. His annual assertion became famous:
Despite inheriting a seat in the House of Lords
, he rarely attended. Throughout his life, he enjoyed writing pithy, memorable and topical letters to The Times
.
The couple divorced in 1949, and he married Ann Bullard (née Aymer) the same year. They had one son:
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(16 April 1913 – 4 February 2003) was a British industrialist and horticulturalist. He was the son of Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway
Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway
Henry Duncan McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway CBE was a British politician, horticulturalist and industrialist. He was the son of Charles McLaren, 1st Baron Aberconway and Laura Pochin.- Education :...
and Christabel Macnaghten.
Education
He was educated at EtonEton 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"....
, New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, and became a barrister of the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
.
Career
As a young man, he became a director of John Brown & CompanyJohn Brown & Company
John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a pre-eminent Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm, responsible for building many notable and world-famous ships, such as the , the , the , the , the , and the...
, the board of which was chaired by his father. Due to this connection, he took part in a secret, unofficial meeting of British industrialists with Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
in Sylt
Sylt
Sylt is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, and well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia...
in 1939. The meeting was authorized by Lord Halifax
E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, , known as The Lord Irwin from 1925 until 1934 and as The Viscount Halifax from 1934 until 1944, was one of the most senior British Conservative politicians of the 1930s, during which he held several senior ministerial posts, most notably as...
and was intended as a last-ditch effort to forestall a German invasion of Poland through concessions. The mission was, of course, a failure; McLaren kept the meeting a secret until 2000.
During the Second World War, he joined the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, becoming a second lieutenant. After the war, he took a more active role in the family corporations, preparing to succeed his father. He was also a director of Westland Aircraft
Westland Aircraft
Westland Aircraft was a British aircraft manufacturer located in Yeovil in Somerset. Formed as a separate company by separation from Petters Ltd just before the start of the Second World War, Westland had been building aircraft since 1915...
from 1947–1985. He was made a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
in 1946, and High Sheriff of Denbighshire
High Sheriff of Denbighshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1950.
In 1953, he succeeded his father in the barony, the chairmanship of John Brown and English China Clays, and various other industrial interests. He would continue in these chairmanships until 1986 and 1984, respectively. Despite his corporate responsibilities, Lord Aberconway took a keen interest in horticulture. Besides maintaining the family's Bodnant Garden, he was the President of the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
1961–1983 and oversaw the management of the Chelsea Flower Show
Chelsea Flower Show
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, formally known as the Great Spring Show, is a garden show held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London...
. His annual assertion became famous:
- I think I can say, without fear of contradiction, that this is the finest Chelsea Flower Show ever.
Despite inheriting a seat 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....
, he rarely attended. Throughout his life, he enjoyed writing pithy, memorable and topical letters to The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
.
Family
He married Deirdre Knewstub on 6 December 1941, and had three children:- Hon. Julia Harriet McLaren (b. 22 September 1942), married Capt. Charles Ridley and has issue
- Dr. Hon. Caroline Mary McLaren (b. 24 October 1944), married Raimund Sargent and has issue
- Henry Charles McLaren, 4th Baron Aberconway (b. 1948)
The couple divorced in 1949, and he married Ann Bullard (née Aymer) the same year. They had one son:
- Hon. Michael Duncan McLaren, QC (b. November 29, 1958), married Caroline Stacey and has issue; present manager of Bodnant GardenBodnant GardenBodnant Garden is a National Trust property near Tal-y-Cafn, in the county borough of Conwy, Wales. Bodnant Garden is situated above the River Conwy and overlooks the Conwy valley towards the Carneddau range of mountains.- History :...
.
External links
- Obituary
- thePeerage.com
- Lord Aberconway: [Obituary], at The Times, February 5, 2003