Douglas Veale
Encyclopedia
Sir Douglas Veale was a British civil servant and university administrator, who served as Registrar of the University of Oxford
from 1930 to 1958.
and Corpus Christi College, Oxford
, gaining a degree in classics in 1914. He had joined the Territorial Force
on 17 September 1910 when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
in the 4th (City of Bristol) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, having previously risen to the rank of cadet colour-sergeant in his school's Officers' Training Corps unit. He was promoted to lieutenant
on 31 March 1911. Called up on the embodiment of the Terriotorial Force on the outbreak of the First World War, he served with 1/4th Battalion in France from 31 March 1915. He was promoted to substantive captain
on 27 May 1915. He was invalided home and appointed adjutant
of the regiment's reserve battalion on 27 July 1916. He stepped down as adjutant on 18 May 1917, and was then allowed to take up an appointment as a civil servant with the Local Government Board, later the Ministry of Health. He was private secretary to various Ministers of Health between 1921 and 1928, then private secretary to Neville Chamberlain
, helping to implement the Local Government Act 1929
. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) on 1 March 1929. The following year, he was appointed Registrar of the University of Oxford
, as part of the university's plan to improve its administration by making the post more important. Although he initially faced suspicion from the colleges of the university
, who disliked centralisation, he made his reputation by hard work and sensitivity to the role of colleges. He was reported to write minutes of university council meetings in advance, knowing what the likely decision was going to be. His former position as a civil servant was useful to the university as his former colleagues became more senior and found themselves in influential positions.
He was knighted
in the 1954 New Year Honours
, receiving the accolade
from the Queen Mother
at Buckingham Palace
on 19 February. He became an Honorary Fellow of Corpus Christi and of St Edmund Hall, Oxford
in 1958, the year that he retired from his post; he was also awarded an honorary doctorate by the university. His interests included walking and tennis. He was married with three children, including the musician John Veale
. He died in Oxford on 27 September 1973.
Registrar of the University of Oxford
The Registrar of the University of Oxford is one of the senior officials of the university. According to its statutes, the Registrar acts as the "head of the central administrative services", with responsibility for "the management and professional development of their staff and for the development...
from 1930 to 1958.
Life
Douglas Veale was the youngest of three sons of a Bristol solicitor and his wife, Edward and Maud Veale. He studied at Bristol Grammar SchoolBristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
and Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
, gaining a degree in classics in 1914. He had joined the Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
on 17 September 1910 when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 4th (City of Bristol) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, having previously risen to the rank of cadet colour-sergeant in his school's Officers' Training Corps unit. He was promoted to lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on 31 March 1911. Called up on the embodiment of the Terriotorial Force on the outbreak of the First World War, he served with 1/4th Battalion in France from 31 March 1915. He was promoted to substantive captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
on 27 May 1915. He was invalided home and appointed adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the regiment's reserve battalion on 27 July 1916. He stepped down as adjutant on 18 May 1917, and was then allowed to take up an appointment as a civil servant with the Local Government Board, later the Ministry of Health. He was private secretary to various Ministers of Health between 1921 and 1928, then private secretary to Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
, helping to implement the Local Government Act 1929
Local Government Act 1929
The Local Government Act 1929 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that made changes to the Poor Law and local government in England and Wales....
. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) on 1 March 1929. The following year, he was appointed Registrar of the University of Oxford
Registrar of the University of Oxford
The Registrar of the University of Oxford is one of the senior officials of the university. According to its statutes, the Registrar acts as the "head of the central administrative services", with responsibility for "the management and professional development of their staff and for the development...
, as part of the university's plan to improve its administration by making the post more important. Although he initially faced suspicion from the colleges of the university
Colleges of the University of Oxford
The University of Oxford comprises 38 Colleges and 6 Permanent Private Halls of religious foundation. Colleges and PPHs are autonomous self-governing corporations within the university, and all teaching staff and students studying for a degree of the university must belong to one of the colleges...
, who disliked centralisation, he made his reputation by hard work and sensitivity to the role of colleges. He was reported to write minutes of university council meetings in advance, knowing what the likely decision was going to be. His former position as a civil servant was useful to the university as his former colleagues became more senior and found themselves in influential positions.
He was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 1954 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
, receiving the accolade
Accolade
In the Middle Ages, the accolade was the central act in the rite-of-passage ceremonies conferring knighthood.-Ceremony:...
from the Queen Mother
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
on 19 February. He became an Honorary Fellow of Corpus Christi and of St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Better known within the University by its nickname, "Teddy Hall", the college has a claim to being "the oldest academical society for the education of undergraduates in any university"...
in 1958, the year that he retired from his post; he was also awarded an honorary doctorate by the university. His interests included walking and tennis. He was married with three children, including the musician John Veale
John Veale
John Douglas Louis Veale was an English classical composer.He was born in Shortlands, Bromley, Kent; his father, Douglas Veale, later served as Registrar of the University of Oxford and received a knighthood. John Veale was educated at Repton and Corpus Christi College, Oxford , alongside Kenneth...
. He died in Oxford on 27 September 1973.