John Elvidge
Encyclopedia
Sir John William Elvidge KCB
(born 9 February 1951) is the former Permanent Secretary
to the Scottish Government. He was appointed in July 2003, replacing Sir Muir Russell
. He retired from the post in June 2010.
in Walthamstow
, East London
. He studied English language
and literature
at St Catherine's College, Oxford
, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
degree. In 1973, he joined the Civil Service, working in the Scottish Office
.
, Elvidge worked particularly in the fields of economic development
, physical infrastructure and European Union
relations. He was seconded to Scottish Homes, from 1988–89, and to the Cabinet Office
, from 1998 to 1999, where he was involved in co-ordination of the Government's legislative programme and social policies. In May 1999, He was appointed Head of the Scottish Government Education Department, and in March 2002 became Head of the Finance and Central Services Department
. In 2003, he became Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government
, succeeding Sir Muir Russell
, who became Principal of the University of Glasgow
. Elvidge was created a Knight Commander of the Bath
(KCB) in the 2006 Birthday Honours
. He announced his retirement on 21 May 2010, to take effect in June, to enable his successor to prepare for the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2011.
His interests include painting, film, theatre, music, modern novels, sport, the arts and food and wine.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(born 9 February 1951) is the former Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
to the Scottish Government. He was appointed in July 2003, replacing Sir Muir Russell
Muir Russell
Sir Muir Russell KCB DL FRSE is a former civil servant and former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, and Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.-Early life:...
. He retired from the post in June 2010.
Early life
He was born on 9 February 1951, son of Herbert William Elvidge and Irene Teresa Reynolds, and educated at Sir George Monoux SchoolSir George Monoux College
Sir George Monoux College is a sixth form college located in Walthamstow, East London.-Brief history:Sir George Monoux, the founder of the College, was born in or before 1465. In 1506 he was a Warden of the Drapers Company, in 1509 he became the Sheriff of London and later in 1514 he became Lord...
in Walthamstow
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
, East London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He studied English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at St Catherine's College, Oxford
St Catherine's College, Oxford
St Catherine's College, often called Catz, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its motto is Nova et Vetera...
, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. In 1973, he joined the Civil Service, working in the Scottish Office
Scottish Office
The Scottish Office was a department of the United Kingdom Government from 1885 until 1999, exercising a wide range of government functions in relation to Scotland under the control of the Secretary of State for Scotland...
.
Civil Service
While at the Scottish OfficeScottish Office
The Scottish Office was a department of the United Kingdom Government from 1885 until 1999, exercising a wide range of government functions in relation to Scotland under the control of the Secretary of State for Scotland...
, Elvidge worked particularly in the fields of economic development
Economy of Scotland
The economy of Scotland is closely linked with the rest of the United Kingdom and the wider European Economic Area. Scotland has the second largest GVA per capita of countries in the United Kingdom after England, though it is still lower than the average of the United Kingdom as a whole...
, physical infrastructure and European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
relations. He was seconded to Scottish Homes, from 1988–89, and to the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
, from 1998 to 1999, where he was involved in co-ordination of the Government's legislative programme and social policies. In May 1999, He was appointed Head of the Scottish Government Education Department, and in March 2002 became Head of the Finance and Central Services Department
Finance and Central Services Department
From 1999 until 2007, the Finance and Central Services Department was a civil service department of the Scottish Executive. SEFCSD was responsible for the financial administration of the Executive, including the annual budget and the issue of payments and recording of receipts...
. In 2003, he became Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government
Office of the Permanent Secretary (Scotland)
The Office of the Permanent Secretary is a civil service department of the Scottish Government. It was, in the past, headed by the Permanent Secretary Sir John Elvidge, who replaced Sir Muir Russell in July 2003.The Office was made up of:...
, succeeding Sir Muir Russell
Muir Russell
Sir Muir Russell KCB DL FRSE is a former civil servant and former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, and Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.-Early life:...
, who became Principal of the University of Glasgow
Principal of the University of Glasgow
The Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principal is appointed by the University Court and is...
. Elvidge was created a Knight Commander of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(KCB) in the 2006 Birthday Honours
Birthday Honours 2006
The Birthday Honours 2006 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 17 June 2006, to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2006.The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour, and arranged firstly by the country whose ministers advised the Queen on the...
. He announced his retirement on 21 May 2010, to take effect in June, to enable his successor to prepare for the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2011.
Personal life
Sir John is married to Maureen McGinn (Lady Elvidge) who is a member of the Scotland Committee of the Big Lottery, chair of the Board of ASH Scotland, and was chief executive of the Laidlaw Youth Trust which funded effective interventions supporting children and vulnerable young people in Scotland.His interests include painting, film, theatre, music, modern novels, sport, the arts and food and wine.