Evelyn Macleod, Baroness Macleod of Borve
Encyclopedia
Evelyn Hester "Eve" Macleod, Baroness Macleod of Borve (19 February 1915–17 November 1999) was a British public servant.
Born Evelyn Hester Blois, she was the eldest daughter of Revd. Gervase Blois (1881-1961) (rector of Hanbury, Worcestershire
and youngest son of Sir John Blois, 8th Baronet) and his wife, Hester (youngest daughter of Herbert Pakington, 3rd Baron Hampton). She was educated at Lawnside boarding-school in Great Malvern
, was presented as a debutante
at court and played tennis
for Worcestershire.
On 3 July 1937, she married Mervyn Charles Mason (1907–1940), second son of Alwyne Mason of Foxley Manor, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire
. During World War II
, she worked for the London ambulance
service and her husband was a Lieutenant
in the Pioneer Corps. In 1940, he was killed after his ship was torpedo
ed off the coast of Ireland
and she later married the future politician, Iain Macleod
.
In 1952, Macleod was struck by meningitis
and polio and was subsequently paralysed
in one leg, but managed to walk with the aid of sticks. When her husband was Secretary of State for the Colonies
, she was involved in entertaining various conference delegates. She was a magistrate
, founder chairwoman (later president) of the National Association of Leagues of Hospital Friends and co-founder of Crisis at Christmas in 1967. After her husband died in 1970, she accepted (on the recommendation of Edward Heath
) a life peerage as Baroness Macleod of Borve, a title which her husband had said he would take if ever he were elevated to the Peerage
. In the House of Lords
, she spoke on penal policy, the defence of widow's pension
s and in 1976, launched the National Association of Widows. From 1972-5 she was a member of the Independent Broadcasting Authority
and the first chairwoman of the National Gas Consumers' Council from 1972-7. She died in 1999 and was survived by her two children, Torquil and Diana.
Born Evelyn Hester Blois, she was the eldest daughter of Revd. Gervase Blois (1881-1961) (rector of Hanbury, Worcestershire
Hanbury, Worcestershire
Hanbury is a small rural village in Worcestershire, England near Droitwich Spa and the M5 motorway.- History :Although some flint tools of indeterminate date have been found in the parish the main feature surviving from prehistory is the iron age hill fort on Church Hill...
and youngest son of Sir John Blois, 8th Baronet) and his wife, Hester (youngest daughter of Herbert Pakington, 3rd Baron Hampton). She was educated at Lawnside boarding-school in Great Malvern
Great Malvern
Great Malvern is an area of Malvern, Worcestershire, England. It is the historical centre of the town, and the location of the headquarters buildings of the of Malvern Town Council, the governing body of the Malvern civil parish, and Malvern Hills District council of the county of...
, was presented as a debutante
Debutante
A débutante is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal "début" presentation. It should not be confused with a Debs...
at court and played tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
for Worcestershire.
On 3 July 1937, she married Mervyn Charles Mason (1907–1940), second son of Alwyne Mason of Foxley Manor, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. During 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...
, she worked for the London ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
service and her husband was a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Pioneer Corps. In 1940, he was killed after his ship was torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
ed off the coast of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and she later married the future politician, Iain Macleod
Iain Macleod
Iain Norman Macleod was a British Conservative Party politician and government minister.-Early life:...
.
In 1952, Macleod was struck by meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
and polio and was subsequently paralysed
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
in one leg, but managed to walk with the aid of sticks. When her husband was Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
, she was involved in entertaining various conference delegates. She was a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
, founder chairwoman (later president) of the National Association of Leagues of Hospital Friends and co-founder of Crisis at Christmas in 1967. After her husband died in 1970, she accepted (on the recommendation of Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
) a life peerage as Baroness Macleod of Borve, a title which her husband had said he would take if ever he were elevated to the Peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
. 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....
, she spoke on penal policy, the defence of widow's pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
s and in 1976, launched the National Association of Widows. From 1972-5 she was a member of the Independent Broadcasting Authority
Independent Broadcasting Authority
The Independent Broadcasting Authority was the regulatory body in the United Kingdom for commercial television - and commercial/independent radio broadcasts...
and the first chairwoman of the National Gas Consumers' Council from 1972-7. She died in 1999 and was survived by her two children, Torquil and Diana.
Sources
- David Goldsworthy, Macleod, Iain Norman (1913–1970), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edition, May 2007, accessed 23 October 2007