Francis Newall, 2nd Baron Newall
Encyclopedia
Francis Storer Eaton Newall, 2nd Baron Newall DL
(born 23 June 1930, in Surrey, England) is the son of Marshal of the Royal Air Force
and Governor-General of New Zealand
Sir Cyril Newall
and his wife Olivia, and has served as a soldier
, staff officer
, diplomat
, politician
, legislator
, businessman, and representative of the Crown in a variety of capacities.
Newall resided in his family's Surrey
home before leaving for Cairo
upon his father's appointment as Air Officer Commanding Middle East. There he remained for four years, returning again to Surrey from 1935 to 1941, at which point he and his family were moved to New Zealand following Sir Cyril's appointment as Governor-General. Unlike the rest of his family, he only remained two years: in 1943, having matriculated to Eton
, he returned home, residing there and with strangers and friends of his parents from then through the end of the war and, subsequently, that of his father's term in 1946.
Newall remained at Eton through 1948, when he volunteered for Army
service and was accepted to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
. He remained there until successfully completing the course in the middle of 1950, at which point (following further gunnery training) he joined the 11th Hussars
, then stationed with the British Army of the Rhine
in Osnabrück
, Germany. He served there and at Wesendorf
for three years, commanding an armoured cavalry
troop
and being promoted Lieutenant
in 1952 before the 11th was transferred to Malaysia (then-British Malaya
) in 1953 to combat the increasingly powerful Communist insurgency
there (see Malayan Emergency
). During his service there, he served in a variety of roles, including intelligence, domestic pacification, and aide-de-camp to General
Sir Charles Loewen
, Commander-in-Chief Far East Land Forces. In 1956 he was promoted Captain
and returned to Britain as adjutant to the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
, and served in a variety of roles thereafter until his 1961 retirement following contraction of jaundice
in Omagh
, Northern Ireland
.
At this point, Newall entered the business world. He joined Arthur Guinness & Son
and subsequently helped found Harp Lager
. During this time he acceded to the peerage following his father's death in 1963, assuming his seat in the House of Lords
as the Lord Newall. He remained with Guinness until 1966, taking a position as public relations spokesmen for Schweppes USA, Ltd, during which time he took a home in Connecticut
. He returned to the UK in 1972 as managing director for Neilson McCarthy Public Relations, a position he held until 1975. He has continued to be involved in business since, and presently serves as Chairman of Code Circus Ltd, a web application development
company.
At this time Lord Newall began to seriously engage in politics. He took his seat as a Conservative
member of the Lords shortly following the return to power of Labour
Prime Minister
Harold Wilson
, and served as an opposition spokesman and whip
from 1976, his tenure ending upon the victory and accession to power of Margaret Thatcher
. He continued dual involvement in both business and politics through 1983, at which time he entered continental politics as a delegate to the Council of Europe
and Western European Union
. He continued sitting in the Lords, holding his seat for a total of thirty-seven years and introducing six private members’ bills — four of which were passed — as well as making hundreds of speeches. Since losing his seat per the expulsion of the hereditary peers in the House of Lords Act 1999
he has become Co-Chairman of the Hereditary Peerage Association
. He has also acted as a representative of the British parliament and the WEU on several occasions: notably, during annual visits from 1986 through 1993 to Romania
, which included private meetings with President
Nicolae Ceauşescu
and members of his government; and, more recently, in Azerbaijan
.
Lord Newall also takes active interests in both sports and charity work. He served for twelve years as chairman of the British Greyhound Racing Board and president of the World Greyhound Racing Association. He has been president of SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad)
, chairman of the Lord Barnby Charitable Association and of the British Moroccan Society, and a committee member for the Not Forgotten Association, which works to provide services for disabled British servicepeople. He is also honorary president of the Committee for Release of Tindouf Prisoners, which campaigns for the release of a great many of the longest-held prisoners in the world who are held in dreadful conditions in a concentration camp in Algeria.
Lord Newall has three children — daughter Miranda and sons Richard and David — and seven grandchildren with his wife of fifty three years, Panna. The garden of his home in Buckinghamshire
, where he has resided for thirty seven years, is open to the public.
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 23 June 1930, in Surrey, England) is the son of Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Marshal of the Royal Air Force is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff, and to retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, who were promoted to it on their last day of service. Promotions to the rank have ceased...
and Governor-General of New Zealand
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
Sir Cyril Newall
Cyril Newall, 1st Baron Newall
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Cyril Louis Norton Newall, 1st Baron Newall GCB OM GCMG CBE AM , was a British soldier and airman, who headed the Royal Air Force as the Chief of the Air Staff during the early part of the Second World War before serving as the sixth Governor-General of New Zealand...
and his wife Olivia, and has served as a soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, staff officer
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, legislator
Legislator
A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...
, businessman, and representative of the Crown in a variety of capacities.
Newall resided in his family's Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
home before leaving for Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
upon his father's appointment as Air Officer Commanding Middle East. There he remained for four years, returning again to Surrey from 1935 to 1941, at which point he and his family were moved to New Zealand following Sir Cyril's appointment as Governor-General. Unlike the rest of his family, he only remained two years: in 1943, having matriculated to Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, he returned home, residing there and with strangers and friends of his parents from then through the end of the war and, subsequently, that of his father's term in 1946.
Newall remained at Eton through 1948, when he volunteered for Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
service and was accepted to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. He remained there until successfully completing the course in the middle of 1950, at which point (following further gunnery training) he joined the 11th Hussars
11th Hussars
The 11th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-History:The regiment was founded in 1715 as Colonel Philip Honeywood's Regiment of Dragoons and was known by the name of its Colonel until 1751 when it became the 11th Regiment of Dragoons...
, then stationed with the British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
in Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
, Germany. He served there and at Wesendorf
Wesendorf
Wesendorf is a municipality in the district of Gifhorn, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 12 km north of Gifhorn.Wesendorf is also the seat of the Samtgemeinde Wesendorf . The municipality consists of the following villages:* Wesendorf* Westerholz...
for three years, commanding an armoured cavalry
Armoured cavalry
Armoured cavalry began to replace horse cavalry as the reconnaissance arm in most armies after the First World War, although many armies continued to maintain horse cavalry through the end of the Second World War....
troop
Troop
A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. In many armies a troop is the equivalent unit to the infantry section or platoon...
and being promoted 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 1952 before the 11th was transferred to Malaysia (then-British Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
) in 1953 to combat the increasingly powerful Communist insurgency
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
there (see Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
). During his service there, he served in a variety of roles, including intelligence, domestic pacification, and aide-de-camp to General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Sir Charles Loewen
Charles Loewen
General Sir Charles Falkland Loewen GCB, KBE, DSO was a Canadian born and educated soldier who became Adjutant-General to the Forces in the United Kingdom.-Military career:...
, Commander-in-Chief Far East Land Forces. In 1956 he was promoted 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...
and returned to Britain as adjutant to the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars was a unit of the British Army.Raised in 1795 following William Pitt's 1794 order to raise volunteer bodies of men to defend Great Britain, through various re-organisations, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars remain today on the establishment of the Territorial...
, and served in a variety of roles thereafter until his 1961 retirement following contraction of jaundice
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellowish pigmentation of the skin, the conjunctival membranes over the sclerae , and other mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia . This hyperbilirubinemia subsequently causes increased levels of bilirubin in the extracellular fluid...
in Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
At this point, Newall entered the business world. He joined Arthur Guinness & Son
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
and subsequently helped found Harp Lager
Harp Lager
Harp Lager, is a pale lager brand created in 1960 by the Guinness Brewery in their Dundalk brewery. It is a leading lager brand in Ireland, and is also popular in Australia, Canada, Africa and the United States...
. During this time he acceded to the peerage following his father's death in 1963, assuming his seat 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....
as the Lord Newall. He remained with Guinness until 1966, taking a position as public relations spokesmen for Schweppes USA, Ltd, during which time he took a home in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He returned to the UK in 1972 as managing director for Neilson McCarthy Public Relations, a position he held until 1975. He has continued to be involved in business since, and presently serves as Chairman of Code Circus Ltd, a web application development
Web application development
Web application development is the process and practice of developing web applications.-Risk:Just as with a traditional desktop application, web applications have varying levels of risk. A personal home page is much less risky than, for example, a stock trading web site. For some projects security,...
company.
At this time Lord Newall began to seriously engage in politics. He took his seat as a Conservative
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...
member of the Lords shortly following the return to power of Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
, and served as an opposition spokesman and whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
from 1976, his tenure ending upon the victory and accession to power of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. He continued dual involvement in both business and politics through 1983, at which time he entered continental politics as a delegate to the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and Western European Union
Western European Union
The Western European Union was an international organisation tasked with implementing the Modified Treaty of Brussels , an amended version of the original 1948 Treaty of Brussels...
. He continued sitting in the Lords, holding his seat for a total of thirty-seven years and introducing six private members’ bills — four of which were passed — as well as making hundreds of speeches. Since losing his seat per the expulsion of the hereditary peers in the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
he has become Co-Chairman of the Hereditary Peerage Association
Hereditary Peerage Association
The Hereditary Peerage Association is a British representative body for hereditary peers in the United Kingdom formed in the wake of the House of Lords Act 1999...
. He has also acted as a representative of the British parliament and the WEU on several occasions: notably, during annual visits from 1986 through 1993 to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, which included private meetings with President
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
and members of his government; and, more recently, in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
.
Lord Newall also takes active interests in both sports and charity work. He served for twelve years as chairman of the British Greyhound Racing Board and president of the World Greyhound Racing Association. He has been president of SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad)
SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad)
The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad is a voluntary British organisation with the objective and purpose of providing veterinary care to working animals in communities around the world....
, chairman of the Lord Barnby Charitable Association and of the British Moroccan Society, and a committee member for the Not Forgotten Association, which works to provide services for disabled British servicepeople. He is also honorary president of the Committee for Release of Tindouf Prisoners, which campaigns for the release of a great many of the longest-held prisoners in the world who are held in dreadful conditions in a concentration camp in Algeria.
Lord Newall has three children — daughter Miranda and sons Richard and David — and seven grandchildren with his wife of fifty three years, Panna. The garden of his home in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, where he has resided for thirty seven years, is open to the public.