Eric Edwards, Baron Chelmer
Encyclopedia
Baron Chelmer, of Margaretting in the County of Essex MC
, previously Sir Eric Cyril Boyd Edwards, (9 October 1914–3 March 1997) was an English solicitor and organiser for the Conservative Party
. He was Chairman of the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations
from 1957 to 1965, and Joint Treasurer of the party from 1965 to 1977.
Eric Edwards was the eldest son of Colonel C E Edwards DSO
, a solicitor and Liberal
councillor. He attended Felsted School
, and gave up his early hope of becoming a diplomat
to enter his father's firm of solicitors, after taking an LLB
at the University of London
. He joined the Essex Yeomanry
, which in World War II
became 147 Field Regiment the Royal Artillery
. He fought in the invasion of France
, winning a Military Cross
in 1944, and gaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was commanding officer of the Essex Yeomanry in 1945–6.
After the war, he and his father joined the Conservative Party. Having failed to be preselected
as Parliamentary candidate for Southend
, he thereafter served the party in a voluntary capacity, at the same time adding insurance and property interests to his legal career. With the support of Harold Macmillan
, he rose to become deputy party chairman. He was knight
ed in 1954. With Oliver Poole
, he transformed party funding by setting a quota for subscription revenue from each constituency branch, with the results published at the annual party conference
.
He was made a life peer
in 1963, but never gave a maiden speech
in the House of Lords
, in keeping with the custom for party fund-raisers. He made 13 speeches in all. When Macmillan retired that year, he got Baron Chelmer to sound out the Earl of Home
as his successor, with the party split between Quintin Hogg
and Rab Butler
.
He married Enid Harvey in 1939; they had one son. He was on the board of directors
of several companies. He enjoyed sailing
, especially catamaran
s, and was involved with music charities.
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....
, previously Sir Eric Cyril Boyd Edwards, (9 October 1914–3 March 1997) was an English solicitor and organiser for the Conservative Party
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...
. He was Chairman of the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations
National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations
The National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations was a federation of the voluntary wing of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom....
from 1957 to 1965, and Joint Treasurer of the party from 1965 to 1977.
Eric Edwards was the eldest son of Colonel C E Edwards DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, a solicitor and Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
councillor. He attended Felsted School
Felsted School
Felsted School, an English co-educational day and boarding independent school, situated in Felsted, Essex. It is in the British Public School tradition, and was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich who, as Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations, acquired...
, and gave up his early hope of becoming a diplomat
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service is the diplomatic service of the United Kingdom, dealing with foreign affairs, as opposed to the Home Civil Service, which deals with domestic affairs...
to enter his father's firm of solicitors, after taking an LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. He joined the Essex Yeomanry
Essex Yeomanry
The Essex Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army raised in 1797. The regiment recruited volunteers from the county of Essex in the East of England.-Origins:...
, which in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
became 147 Field Regiment 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:...
. He fought in the invasion of France
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, winning a 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 1944, and gaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was commanding officer of the Essex Yeomanry in 1945–6.
After the war, he and his father joined the Conservative Party. Having failed to be preselected
Preselection
Preselection is the process by which a candidate is selected, usually by a political party, to contest an election for political office. It is also referred to as candidate selection. It is a fundamental function of political parties...
as Parliamentary candidate for Southend
Southend (UK Parliament constituency)
Southend was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Southend-on-Sea in Essex. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
, he thereafter served the party in a voluntary capacity, at the same time adding insurance and property interests to his legal career. With the support of Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
, he rose to become deputy party chairman. He was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in 1954. With Oliver Poole
Oliver Poole, 1st Baron Poole
Oliver Brian Sanderson Poole, 1st Baron Poole CBE, TD, PC , was a British Conservative politician, soldier and businessman.Poole was the eldest son of Donald Louis Poole, and was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford...
, he transformed party funding by setting a quota for subscription revenue from each constituency branch, with the results published at the annual party conference
Party conference
The terms party conference , political convention , and party congress usually refer to a general meeting of a political party. The conference is attended by certain delegates who represent the party membership...
.
He was made 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...
in 1963, but never gave a maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
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....
, in keeping with the custom for party fund-raisers. He made 13 speeches in all. When Macmillan retired that year, he got Baron Chelmer to sound out the Earl of Home
Alec Douglas-Home
Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel, KT, PC , known as The Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963 and as Sir Alec Douglas-Home from 1963 to 1974, was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1963 to October 1964.He is the last...
as his successor, with the party split between Quintin Hogg
Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone
For the businessman and philanthropist, see Quintin Hogg Quintin McGarel Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone, KG, CH, PC, QC, FRS , formerly 2nd Viscount Hailsham , was a British politician who was known for the longevity of his career, the vigour with which he campaigned for the Conservative...
and Rab Butler
Rab Butler
Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, KG CH DL PC , who invariably signed his name R. A. Butler and was familiarly known as Rab, was a British Conservative politician...
.
He married Enid Harvey in 1939; they had one son. He was on the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of several companies. He enjoyed sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, especially catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
s, and was involved with music charities.