Douglas Allen, Baron Croham
Encyclopedia
Douglas Albert Vivian Allen, Baron Croham GCB
, (15 December 1917 – 11 September 2011) was a British
politician and civil servant.
The son of Albert John Allen, Douglas Allen was only one when his father was killed in action during the First World War. Allen was educated at Wallington County Grammar School
and at the London School of Economics
(LSE), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science
in statistics in 1938. During the Second World War, from 1940 to 1945, he served in the Royal Artillery
.
Having entered the British Civil Service
, Allen worked in the Board of Trade
between 1939 and 1947, and in Her Majesty's Treasury between 1948 to 1958. In 1958, he became a Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Health, a post he held until 1960, when he changed to Her Majesty's Treasury again. Made a Third Secretary in 1962 and a Permanent Secretary
in 1966, he worked for the Department of Economic Affairs from 1964 to 1968. Allen was Permanent Secretary of Her Majesty's Treasury from 1968 to 1974, and Permanent Secretary of the Civil Service Department and Head of the Home Civil Service from 1974 to 1977.
Allen was chairman of British National Oil Corporation (BNOC) from 1982 to 1986, of Guinness Peat Group
from 1982 to 1987, and of Trinity Insurance Ltd from 1987 to 1992. He was president of the Institute for Fiscal Studies
(IFS) between 1978 to 1992, and of the British Institute of Energy Economics between 1986 to 1994. For the Anglo-German Foundation he was chairman from 1982 and 1998. Allen was governor of the London School of Economics between 1977 and 2004 and of the Wallington County Grammar School between 1993 and 2003. He was member of the First Division Association
(FDA) and vice-president of the Anglo-German Association. He was also a member of the Institute of Directors
and a companion of the British Institute of Management.
Allen was a Fellow
of the Royal Society of Arts
and was made an Honorary Doctor of Social Science
(DSocSc) by the University of Southampton
. In 1963, he was appointed a Commander
of the Order of the Bath
(CB), in 1967 a Knight Commander (KCB) and in 1973, a Knight Grand Cross (GCB). On 8 February 1978, he was created a life peer
as Baron Croham, of the London Borough of Croydon
.
Allen was married to Sybil Eileen Allegro from 1941 until 1994, when his wife died. They had two sons and a daughter.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, (15 December 1917 – 11 September 2011) was 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...
politician and civil servant.
The son of Albert John Allen, Douglas Allen was only one when his father was killed in action during the First World War. Allen was educated at Wallington County Grammar School
Wallington County Grammar School
Wallington County Grammar School is a state-funded boys' grammar school located in Wallington, Sutton, London. Places at the school are invariably oversubscribed and entrance is via competitive exam...
and at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(LSE), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in statistics in 1938. During the Second World War, from 1940 to 1945, he served in 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:...
.
Having entered the British Civil Service
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
, Allen worked in the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
between 1939 and 1947, and in Her Majesty's Treasury between 1948 to 1958. In 1958, he became a Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Health, a post he held until 1960, when he changed to Her Majesty's Treasury again. Made a Third Secretary in 1962 and a Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
in 1966, he worked for the Department of Economic Affairs from 1964 to 1968. Allen was Permanent Secretary of Her Majesty's Treasury from 1968 to 1974, and Permanent Secretary of the Civil Service Department and Head of the Home Civil Service from 1974 to 1977.
Allen was chairman of British National Oil Corporation (BNOC) from 1982 to 1986, of Guinness Peat Group
Guinness Peat Group
Guinness Peat Group is an investment holding company with interests in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.-History:The company, which had been formed as an investment offshoot of the London-based investment bank Guinness Mahon in the 1980s, was acquired by Brierley Investments Limited in 1990...
from 1982 to 1987, and of Trinity Insurance Ltd from 1987 to 1992. He was president of the Institute for Fiscal Studies
Institute for Fiscal Studies
The Institute for Fiscal Studies is an economic research institute based in London, United Kingdom which specialises in UK taxation and public policy...
(IFS) between 1978 to 1992, and of the British Institute of Energy Economics between 1986 to 1994. For the Anglo-German Foundation he was chairman from 1982 and 1998. Allen was governor of the London School of Economics between 1977 and 2004 and of the Wallington County Grammar School between 1993 and 2003. He was member of the First Division Association
First Division Association
The FDA, formerly The Association of First Division Civil Servants, and sometimes known as the First Division Association, is a trade union for senior civil servants and public service professionals in the United Kingdom, founded in 1918....
(FDA) and vice-president of the Anglo-German Association. He was also a member of the Institute of Directors
Institute of Directors
The Institute of Directors is a UK-based organisation, established in 1903 and incorporated by royal charter in 1906 to support, represent and set standards for company directors...
and a companion of the British Institute of Management.
Allen was a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
and was made an Honorary Doctor of Social Science
Doctor of Social Science
The Doctorate of Social Science is a higher qualification offered by select universities, which serves as a doctoral level qualification specifically relating to academic work in the field of social sciences....
(DSocSc) by the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
. In 1963, he was appointed a 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 Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(CB), in 1967 a Knight Commander (KCB) and in 1973, a Knight Grand Cross (GCB). On 8 February 1978, 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 Croham, of the London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
.
Allen was married to Sybil Eileen Allegro from 1941 until 1994, when his wife died. They had two sons and a daughter.