Kenneth Bloomfield
Encyclopedia
Sir Kenneth Percy Bloomfield (born April 15, 1931) is a former head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service
who was later a member of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains
and for a time Northern Ireland Victims Commissioner. In addition to this, he has held a variety of public sector posts in Northern Ireland
and elsewhere.
, Northern Ireland
to English parents in 1931. Between the years on 1943 and 1949, he attended the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
and later went on to read Modern History at St Peter's College, Oxford
. He is married with two children. Sir Kenneth received a Knighthood in the 1987 Birthday Honours List and has received honorary doctorates from Queen's University, Belfast and in June 2000 from the Open University
. On 12 September 1988, he and his wife were the targets of an IRA
attack on their home in Crawfordsburn
, County Down
; neither Bloomfield nor his wife were injured in the blast. His child, born Timothy Bloomfield, a transgendered woman, made headlines for claiming refugee status in Canada.
executive in 1974. After the collapse of the executive, he went on to become Permanent Secretary for the Department of the Environment
and the Department of Economic Development, and finally Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service on 1 December 1984. In that capacity he was the most senior advisor to successive Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland
and other Ministers on a wide range of issues. He retired from the post in April 1991.
Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, since retiring from the Civil Service, has embarked on life of involvement in a diverse range of organisations. He has taken up roles such as Chairman for the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission and his alma mater, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
. He has also been involved in the political reform of the States of Jersey
and most recently, spearheading the Association for Quality Education, which is fighting to retain academic selection in the Northern Ireland education system. In December 1997 he was asked by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mo Mowlam
, to become the Northern Ireland Victims Commissioner for a fixed term. His role was to produce a report on the way forward for Victims issues in Northern Ireland. His report entitled We Will Remember Them was published in April 1998. From 1991 to 1999 he served as the BBC
's National Governor for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Civil Service
The Northern Ireland Civil Service is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports the Northern Ireland Executive, the devolved government of Northern Ireland....
who was later a member of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains
Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains was established by treaty between the United Kingdom Government and the Government of Ireland, made on 27 April 1999 in connection with the affairs of Northern Ireland....
and for a time Northern Ireland Victims Commissioner. In addition to this, he has held a variety of public sector posts in 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...
and elsewhere.
Early and personal life
Sir Kenneth Bloomfield was born in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, 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...
to English parents in 1931. Between the years on 1943 and 1949, he attended the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
and later went on to read Modern History at St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, located in New Inn Hall Street. It occupies the site of two of the University's oldest Inns, or medieval hostels - Bishop Trellick's, later New Inn Hall, and Rose Hall - both of which were...
. He is married with two children. Sir Kenneth received a Knighthood in the 1987 Birthday Honours List and has received honorary doctorates from Queen's University, Belfast and in June 2000 from the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
. On 12 September 1988, he and his wife were the targets of an IRA
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
attack on their home in Crawfordsburn
Crawfordsburn
Crawfordsburn is a small picturesque village in County Down, Northern Ireland. The village, which is now effectively a commuter suburb, lies between Holywood and Bangor to the north of the A2 road, about 4 km west of Bangor town centre. Bounded to the north and north east by Crawfordsburn...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
; neither Bloomfield nor his wife were injured in the blast. His child, born Timothy Bloomfield, a transgendered woman, made headlines for claiming refugee status in Canada.
Public sector career
Having joined the Civil Service in 1952, he was appointed Permanent Secretary to the power sharingSunningdale Agreement
The Sunningdale Agreement was an attempt to establish a power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive and a cross-border Council of Ireland. The Agreement was signed at the Civil Service College in Sunningdale Park located in Sunningdale, Berkshire, on 9 December 1973.Unionist opposition, violence and...
executive in 1974. After the collapse of the executive, he went on to become Permanent Secretary for the Department of the Environment
Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland)
The Department of the Environment is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister for the Environment.-Aim:...
and the Department of Economic Development, and finally Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service on 1 December 1984. In that capacity he was the most senior advisor to successive Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
and other Ministers on a wide range of issues. He retired from the post in April 1991.
Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, since retiring from the Civil Service, has embarked on life of involvement in a diverse range of organisations. He has taken up roles such as Chairman for the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission and his alma mater, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
. He has also been involved in the political reform of the States of Jersey
States of Jersey
The States of Jersey is the parliament and government of Jersey.The Assembly of the States of Jersey has exercised legislative powers since 1771, when law-making power was transferred from the Royal Court of Jersey....
and most recently, spearheading the Association for Quality Education, which is fighting to retain academic selection in the Northern Ireland education system. In December 1997 he was asked by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mo Mowlam
Mo Mowlam
Marjorie "Mo" Mowlam was a British Labour Party politician. She was the Member of Parliament for Redcar from 1987 to 2001 and served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.Mowlam's time as Northern...
, to become the Northern Ireland Victims Commissioner for a fixed term. His role was to produce a report on the way forward for Victims issues in Northern Ireland. His report entitled We Will Remember Them was published in April 1998. From 1991 to 1999 he served as the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's National Governor for Northern Ireland.
Works
- A New Life (2008)
- A Tragedy of Errors (2007)
- We will remember them (1998) Full text from CAIN
- Stormont in Crisis, a memoir (1994)
External links
- Northern Ireland Civil ServiceNorthern Ireland Civil ServiceThe Northern Ireland Civil Service is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports the Northern Ireland Executive, the devolved government of Northern Ireland....
- Royal Belfast Academical InstitutionRoyal Belfast Academical InstitutionThe Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
- Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains Official Website