David Gibson-Watt
Encyclopedia
David Gibson-Watt, Baron Gibson-Watt MC & Two Bars
(11 September 1918 - 7 February 2002) was a British Conservative
politician.
Educated at Eton College
and Trinity College, Cambridge
, Gibson-Watt served in the Welsh Guards
from 1939 to 1946, seeing action in the North African campaign
and the Italian campaign
. He was awarded the Military Cross
in 1943, later gaining two bars
. A farmer and forester, he served as a Radnor
County Council
lor and chairman of the Livestock Export Council.
He was an unsuccessful parliamentary candidate for the Brecon and Radnor constituency in 1950 and 1951, before being elected as Member of Parliament for Hereford
in February 1956. He held this seat until September 1974. He held office as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
from 1959–61, as an opposition spokesman on communications and broadcasting from 1965 and as Minister of State
at the Welsh Office
from 1970-74. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor
in 1974.
Gibson-Watt later held public office as a Forestry Commission
er from 1976–86, as Chairman of the Council on Tribunals, 1980–86, and as a Member of the Historic Buildings Council
, Wales, 1975-79. He was also Chairman of Timber Growers United Kingdom, 1987-90 (Honorary President, 1993–98), a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society, and President of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, 1976 (Chairman of the Council, 1976–94).
In 1979 he was created a life peer
as Baron Gibson-Watt, of the Wye in the District of Radnor
.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(11 September 1918 - 7 February 2002) was a British Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
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"....
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...
, Gibson-Watt served in the Welsh Guards
Welsh Guards
The Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.-Creation :The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order...
from 1939 to 1946, seeing action in the North African campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and the Italian campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in 1943, later gaining two bars
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
. A farmer and forester, he served as a Radnor
Radnor
Radnor may refer to various places:United Kingdom* Radnorshire, Wales* New Radnor, Powys, Wales* Radnor Wood, Clun, Shropshire, EnglandUnited States* Radnor, Indiana* Radnor Township, Peoria County, Illinois* Radnor, Ohio...
County Council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
lor and chairman of the Livestock Export Council.
He was an unsuccessful parliamentary candidate for the Brecon and Radnor constituency in 1950 and 1951, before being elected as Member of Parliament for Hereford
Hereford (UK Parliament constituency)
Hereford was, until 2010, a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Since 1918, it had elected one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post voting system....
in February 1956. He held this seat until September 1974. He held office as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
from 1959–61, as an opposition spokesman on communications and broadcasting from 1965 and as Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
at the Welsh Office
Welsh Office
The Welsh Office was a department in the Government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Wales. It was established in April 1965 to execute government policy in Wales, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Wales, a post which had been created in October 1964...
from 1970-74. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in 1974.
Gibson-Watt later held public office as a Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
er from 1976–86, as Chairman of the Council on Tribunals, 1980–86, and as a Member of the Historic Buildings Council
Historic Buildings Council
Three separate Historic Buildings Councils were created by the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953, one for each of England, Scotland and Wales...
, Wales, 1975-79. He was also Chairman of Timber Growers United Kingdom, 1987-90 (Honorary President, 1993–98), a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society, and President of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, 1976 (Chairman of the Council, 1976–94).
In 1979 he was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Gibson-Watt, of the Wye in the District of Radnor
Radnor
Radnor may refer to various places:United Kingdom* Radnorshire, Wales* New Radnor, Powys, Wales* Radnor Wood, Clun, Shropshire, EnglandUnited States* Radnor, Indiana* Radnor Township, Peoria County, Illinois* Radnor, Ohio...
.