James Gordon, Baron Gordon of Strathblane
Encyclopedia
James Stuart Gordon, Baron Gordon of Strathblane CBE
(born 17 May 1936) is a Scottish
businessman and manager.
The son of James Gordon and Elsie Riach, he was educated at the St Aloysius' College, Glasgow and the University of Glasgow
, where he graduated with a Master of Arts
in classics in 1958. He worked then as political editor for STV between 1965 and 1973, and as managing director of Radio Clyde
between 1973 and 1996.
For the Scottish Radio Holdings
, Gordon was chief executive from 1991 to 1996 and chair from 1996 to 2005. He was vice-chair of Melody Radio from 1991 to 1997, director of Clydeport Holdings from 1992 to 1998 and chair of the Scottish Tourist Board from 1998 to 2001. Since 1990, he has been a member of the Scottish Advisory Board of British Petroleum, and since 1996 director of Johnston Press plc as well as chair of AIM Trust plc (now Active Capital Trust). He has been also chair of Radio Audience Research (RAJAR) since 2003.
Gordon was member of the Scottish Development Agency between 1981 and 1990 and chair of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
between 1983 and 1989. He was a member of the court of the University of Glasgow from 1984 to 1997 and of the Committee of Enquiry into Teachers' Pay and Conditions in 1986. For the Scottish Tourist Board, he has been a member since 1997, and was its chair between 1998 and 2001. From 1997 to 1998, Gordon was chair of the Advisory Group on Listed Events, from 1998 to 1999 member of the Independent Review Panel on Funding of BBC and from 1998 to 2001 board member of the British Tourist Authority.
In the 1964 general election
he contested East Renfrewshire
for Labour
. Gordon was further a trustee of the National Galleries of Scotland
between 1998 and 2001 and has been a trustee of the John Smith Memorial Trust since 1995. From 1995 to 1997 he was Chairman of the Glasgow Common Purpose
organization.
In 1984, he was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE) and received a Sony Award for his outstanding services to radio. On 4 October 1997, he was created a life peer
with the title Baron Gordon of Strathblane, of Deil's Craig in Stirling
. In 1994, Gordon was made a Fellow of The Radio Academy
, and has received the Lord Provost's Award for Public Service in Glasgow as well as the honorary degree Doctor of Letters
(DLitt) by the Glasgow Caledonian University
. He was further made an Honorary Doctor of the University (DUniv) by the University of Glasgow in 1998.
Since 1971, he has been married to Margaret Anne Stevenson. They have a daughter and two sons.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 17 May 1936) is a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
businessman and manager.
The son of James Gordon and Elsie Riach, he was educated at the St Aloysius' College, Glasgow and the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, where he graduated with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
in classics in 1958. He worked then as political editor for STV between 1965 and 1973, and as managing director of Radio Clyde
Radio Clyde
Radio Clyde is a division of Bauer Radio based in Glasgow, Scotland. They currently operate an FM station and an AM station from studios in Clydebank West Dunbartonshire.- History :...
between 1973 and 1996.
For the Scottish Radio Holdings
Scottish Radio Holdings
Scottish Radio Holdings was a Scottish media company which owned 22 radio stations, and around 30 local newspapers in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.-History:...
, Gordon was chief executive from 1991 to 1996 and chair from 1996 to 2005. He was vice-chair of Melody Radio from 1991 to 1997, director of Clydeport Holdings from 1992 to 1998 and chair of the Scottish Tourist Board from 1998 to 2001. Since 1990, he has been a member of the Scottish Advisory Board of British Petroleum, and since 1996 director of Johnston Press plc as well as chair of AIM Trust plc (now Active Capital Trust). He has been also chair of Radio Audience Research (RAJAR) since 2003.
Gordon was member of the Scottish Development Agency between 1981 and 1990 and chair of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre , located on the north bank of the River Clyde, in Glasgow, is Scotland's largest exhibition centre....
between 1983 and 1989. He was a member of the court of the University of Glasgow from 1984 to 1997 and of the Committee of Enquiry into Teachers' Pay and Conditions in 1986. For the Scottish Tourist Board, he has been a member since 1997, and was its chair between 1998 and 2001. From 1997 to 1998, Gordon was chair of the Advisory Group on Listed Events, from 1998 to 1999 member of the Independent Review Panel on Funding of BBC and from 1998 to 2001 board member of the British Tourist Authority.
In the 1964 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1964
The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power...
he contested East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency)
East Renfrewshire is a constituency of the British House of Commons, located in Scotland to the south of Glasgow. It elects one Member of Parliament at least once every five years using the First-past-the-post system of voting....
for 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...
. Gordon was further a trustee of the National Galleries of Scotland
National Galleries of Scotland
The National Galleries of Scotland are the five national galleries of Scotland and two partner galleries. It is one of the country's National Collections.-List of national galleries:* The National Gallery of Scotland* The Royal Scottish Academy Building...
between 1998 and 2001 and has been a trustee of the John Smith Memorial Trust since 1995. From 1995 to 1997 he was Chairman of the Glasgow Common Purpose
Common Purpose UK
Common Purpose UK is a British charity that runs leadership development programmes across the UK.Founded in 1989 by its current Chief Executive, Julia Middleton, its aim is to improve the way organisations and society work together by developing all kinds of leaders through a programme of diverse...
organization.
In 1984, he was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) and received a Sony Award for his outstanding services to radio. On 4 October 1997, he was created 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...
with the title Baron Gordon of Strathblane, of Deil's Craig in Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
. In 1994, Gordon was made a Fellow of The Radio Academy
Radio Academy
The Radio Academy is a registered charity that is dedicated to 'the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production'....
, and has received the Lord Provost's Award for Public Service in Glasgow as well as the honorary degree Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
(DLitt) by the Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow Caledonian University is a public university in Glasgow, Scotland.The university was constituted by an Act of Parliament on 1 April 1993 as a result of a merger between Glasgow Polytechnic and The Queen's College, Glasgow....
. He was further made an Honorary Doctor of the University (DUniv) by the University of Glasgow in 1998.
Since 1971, he has been married to Margaret Anne Stevenson. They have a daughter and two sons.