Diana Eccles, Viscountess Eccles
Encyclopedia
Diana Catherine Eccles, Viscountess Eccles, Baroness Eccles and Baroness Eccles of Moulton (née Sturge) DL
(born 4 October 1933) is a British
noble and businesswoman.
and at the Open University
, where she received a Bachelor of Arts
in 1978. Eccles worked voluntary at the Middlesbrough Community Council from 1955 to 1958, and was partner in a graphic design business from 1963 to 1977. Between 1974 and 1985, she was a member of the North Eastern Electricity Board, between 1981 and 1987 vice-chairman of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations
and between 1982 and 1984 chairman of the Tyne Tees Television Programme Consultative Council. Since 1981, she is lay member of the Durham University Council and since 1985 its vice-chairman.
from 1986 to 1992. She was director of Tyne Tees Television
from 1986 to 1994, of J. Sainsbury plc from 1986 to 1995, and of Yorkshire Electricity Group plc from 1990 to 1997. Between 1990 and 1999, she was a member of the Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority and between 1991 and 1996 director of the National and Provincial Building Society. Since 1998, she is director of the Times Newspapers Holdings Ltd
and of Opera North
and since 2003 of London Clinic.
Eccles was a trustee of the Charities Aid Foundation
from 1982 to 1989 and member of the British Heart Foundation
from 1989 to 1998. Having been trustee for the York Minster Trust Fund between 1989 and 1999, she has been it again since 2006. On 10 May 1990, she was created a life peer
as Baroness Eccles of Moulton, of Moulton in the County of North Yorkshire
. In 1995, Eccles received an Honorary Doctor of Civil Laws from the University of Durham.
. They have three daughters and one son, her husband's heir apparent
The Hon. William David Eccles. She and her husband are one of the few couples who both hold noble titles in their own right.
Viscountess Eccles is entitled to call herself Lady Eccles both through her marriage to her husband, Viscount Eccles
, and as she is a life peer as a Baroness.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(born 4 October 1933) is a British
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...
noble and businesswoman.
Education and early career
The daughter of Raymond and Margaret Sturge nee Keep, she was educated at St James's School in West MalvernWest Malvern
West Malvern is a village and a civil parish on the west side of the north part of the Malvern Hills at the western edge of Worcestershire, administered by the Malvern Hills District , and part of the informally defined area often referred to as the Malverns...
and at the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
, where she received 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 1978. Eccles worked voluntary at the Middlesbrough Community Council from 1955 to 1958, and was partner in a graphic design business from 1963 to 1977. Between 1974 and 1985, she was a member of the North Eastern Electricity Board, between 1981 and 1987 vice-chairman of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations
National Council for Voluntary Organisations
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations is the umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in England. NCVO works to support the voluntary and community sector and to create an environment in which an independent civil society can flourish...
and between 1982 and 1984 chairman of the Tyne Tees Television Programme Consultative Council. Since 1981, she is lay member of the Durham University Council and since 1985 its vice-chairman.
Later career
The Viscountess was further a member of the Advisory Council on Energy Conservation at the Department of Energy from 1982 to 1984, of the Widdicombe Inquiry into Local Government and the Home Office Advisory Panel on Licences for Experimental Community Radio from 1985 to 1986, and of the British Rail Eastern BoardBritish Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
from 1986 to 1992. She was director of Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television franchise for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire. As of 2009, it forms part of a non-franchise ITV Tyne Tees & Border region, shared with the ITV Border region...
from 1986 to 1994, of J. Sainsbury plc from 1986 to 1995, and of Yorkshire Electricity Group plc from 1990 to 1997. Between 1990 and 1999, she was a member of the Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority and between 1991 and 1996 director of the National and Provincial Building Society. Since 1998, she is director of the Times Newspapers Holdings Ltd
News International
News International Ltd is the United Kingdom newspaper publishing division of News Corporation. Until June 2002, it was called News International plc....
and of Opera North
Opera North
Opera North is an English opera company based in Leeds. The company's home theatre is the Leeds Grand Theatre, but it also presents regular seasons in several other cities, at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, the Lowry Centre, Salford Quays and the Theatre Royal, Newcastle...
and since 2003 of London Clinic.
Eccles was a trustee of the Charities Aid Foundation
Charities Aid Foundation
The Charities Aid Foundation is a registered UK charity. Its Head Office is located in the King's Hill business park, West Malling, Kent with a second office in London on St Andrew Street, EC4A 3AY...
from 1982 to 1989 and member of the British Heart Foundation
British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation is a charity organisation in Britain that funds research, education, care and awareness campaigns aimed to prevent heart diseases in humans.-Foundation:...
from 1989 to 1998. Having been trustee for the York Minster Trust Fund between 1989 and 1999, she has been it again since 2006. On 10 May 1990, she 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 Baroness Eccles of Moulton, of Moulton in the County of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
. In 1995, Eccles received an Honorary Doctor of Civil Laws from the University of Durham.
Personal life
Since 1955, she has been married to the 2nd Viscount EcclesJohn Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles
John Dawson Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles CBE is a British peer and businessman. He is one of the ninety hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999....
. They have three daughters and one son, her husband's heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
The Hon. William David Eccles. She and her husband are one of the few couples who both hold noble titles in their own right.
Lords Select Committees Membership
- Pre-Legislative Scrutiny on Mental Health Bill (2005-)
- Communications (2007-)
- Intergovernmental Organisations (2007-)
Styles
- Miss Diana Sturge (1933–1955)
- The Hon. Mrs John Eccles/Mrs Diana Eccles (1955–1990)
- The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Eccles of Moulton (1990–1999)
- The Rt. Hon. The Viscountess Eccles, Baroness Eccles of Moulton (1999-)
Viscountess Eccles is entitled to call herself Lady Eccles both through her marriage to her husband, Viscount Eccles
John Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles
John Dawson Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles CBE is a British peer and businessman. He is one of the ninety hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999....
, and as she is a life peer as a Baroness.