Geoffrey Hutchinson, Baron Ilford
Encyclopedia
Major Geoffrey Clegg Hutchinson, Baron Ilford QC
, MC
, TD
(14 October 1893 – 21 August 1974) was a British
soldier, a barrister and Conservative Party
politician.
, he was the youngest son of the cotton manufacturer Henry Omerod Hutchinson and his wife Elizabeth Clegg. He was educated at Cheltenham College
and went then to Clare College, Cambridge
, graduating with a Master of Arts in 1919.
. He was attached to the British Expeditionary Force until the end of the war and during this time was wounded. In 1916 he was decorated with the Military Cross
and in 1933 obtained a captaincy. He was promoted to major in 1937 and was awarded the Territorial Decoration
in the next year. After the begin of the Second World War he was reactivated in 1940 and sent with the then Expeditionary Force
to the Franco-Belgian border. Hutchinson was allocated to the War Office
in the following year, where he served as deputy assistant to the Military Secretary. He retired in 1945 having reached the age limit and was appointed honorary colonel of the 5th battalion of his former regiment in 1948.
and went to the Northern Circuit. He was nominated a Queen's Counsel
in 1939 and was selected a bencher
in 1946. Six years thereafter he became chairman of the National Assistance Board, a position he held until 1962.
in 1935. He entered the British House of Commons
in 1937, having won a by-election for Ilford
. He represented the constituency until its abolishment in 1945 and subsequently he stood unsuccessfully for Ilford North
. Five years later he was returned for it to Parliament, a seat he held until 1954. He became a member of the Select Committee on National Expenditure in 1942 and of the Speaker's Committee in 1944. Hutchinson sat in the Joint Committee on Consolidation, &c., Bills
in 1951 and again two years later. He was knighted in 1952 and after a decade received a life peer
age with the title Baron Ilford, of Bury, in the County Palatine of Lancaster
on 14 May 1962.
until 1949. Hutchinson continued to represent Hampstead in the County Council until 1952. He was chosen vice-president of the Association of Municipal Corporations in 1944.
Hutchinson was almoner and governor of Christ's Hospital
. In 1947 he became director of the Colne Valley Water
and three years later was president of the British Waterworks Association. He worked in the same function for the Water Companies Association from 1951 and chaired the East Surrey Water Company from the subsequent year.
in France
in 1974.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, MC
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....
, TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(14 October 1893 – 21 August 1974) 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...
soldier, a barrister and 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...
politician.
Background and education
Born in PrestwichPrestwich
Prestwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies close to the River Irwell, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury....
, he was the youngest son of the cotton manufacturer Henry Omerod Hutchinson and his wife Elizabeth Clegg. He was educated at Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
and went then to Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
, graduating with a Master of Arts in 1919.
Military Career
With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Hutchinson joined the Lancashire FusiliersLancashire Fusiliers
The Lancashire Fusiliers was a British infantry regiment that was amalgamated with other Fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.- Formation and early history:...
. He was attached to the British Expeditionary Force until the end of the war and during this time was wounded. In 1916 he was decorated with the 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....
and in 1933 obtained a captaincy. He was promoted to major in 1937 and was awarded the Territorial Decoration
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
in the next year. After the begin of the Second World War he was reactivated in 1940 and sent with the then Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
to the Franco-Belgian border. Hutchinson was allocated to the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
in the following year, where he served as deputy assistant to the Military Secretary. He retired in 1945 having reached the age limit and was appointed honorary colonel of the 5th battalion of his former regiment in 1948.
Legal career
In 1920 Hutchinson was called to the bar by the Inner TempleInner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
and went to the Northern Circuit. He was nominated a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1939 and was selected a bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
in 1946. Six years thereafter he became chairman of the National Assistance Board, a position he held until 1962.
Political career
Hutchinson contested GowerGower (UK Parliament constituency)
Gower is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament , using the first-past-the-post voting system....
in 1935. He entered the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1937, having won a by-election for Ilford
Ilford (UK Parliament constituency)
Ilford was a borough constituency in what is now the London Borough of Redbridge in east London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
. He represented the constituency until its abolishment in 1945 and subsequently he stood unsuccessfully for Ilford North
Ilford North (UK Parliament constituency)
Ilford North is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It comprises the north part of the town of Ilford in the London Borough of Redbridge, and elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of...
. Five years later he was returned for it to Parliament, a seat he held until 1954. He became a member of the Select Committee on National Expenditure in 1942 and of the Speaker's Committee in 1944. Hutchinson sat in the Joint Committee on Consolidation, &c., Bills
Joint Committee on Consolidation, &c., Bills
The Joint Committee on Consolidation, &c., Bills is a joint select committee of the House of Commons and House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Committee was first established in 1894 with a remit to consider consolidation bills...
in 1951 and again two years later. He was knighted in 1952 and after a decade received 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...
age with the title Baron Ilford, of Bury, in the County Palatine of Lancaster
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
on 14 May 1962.
Further career
In 1931 Hutchinson joined the Hampstead Borough Council in which he sat for six years. Subsequently he served as president of the Non-County Boroughs Association until 1944 and chaired then the finance committee of the London County CouncilLondon County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
until 1949. Hutchinson continued to represent Hampstead in the County Council until 1952. He was chosen vice-president of the Association of Municipal Corporations in 1944.
Hutchinson was almoner and governor of Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
. In 1947 he became director of the Colne Valley Water
Colne Valley Water
The Colne Valley Water Company Plc was a statutory water company supplying parts of South West Hertfordshire from 1873 to 1994. In 1994 it merged into Three Valleys Water....
and three years later was president of the British Waterworks Association. He worked in the same function for the Water Companies Association from 1951 and chaired the East Surrey Water Company from the subsequent year.
Family
Hutchinson married Janet Bidlake, youngest daughter of Henry Frederick Keep in 1919. He died in CannesCannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1974.