Marmaduke Hussey, Baron Hussey of North Bradley
Encyclopedia
Marmaduke James Hussey, Baron Hussey of North Bradley (29 August 1923 – 27 December 2006) was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC
from 1986 to 1996, fulfilling two terms in that role.
Hussey was educated at Rugby School
and Trinity College, Oxford
. He served in the Grenadier Guards
in World War II
and was severely injured at Anzio
, having to have a leg amputated as a prisoner-of-war, which resulted in his repatriation. He joined Associated Newspapers
where he had a long career, culminating in the position of managing director, before joining Times Newspapers as chief executive and managing director, a post he held from 1971-1980.
He was appointed Chairman of the BBC
in 1986, upon the death of Stuart Young
, thanks in part to his close connections to the ruling Conservative Party
. Within three months of joining the BBC, he had forced the resignation of the Director-General, Alasdair Milne
, following a series of rows in recent years between the BBC and the Conservative government. In the 1990s, Hussey fell out with Director General John Birt over his management style and Panorama
’s controversial interview with Diana, Princess of Wales
in 1995.
Hussey gave up several boardroom appointments when he took up his job at the BBC, but he remained chairman of the Royal Marsden Hospital until 1998.
On 11 September 1996, Hussey was made a life peer
as Baron Hussey of North Bradley, of North Bradley in the County of Wiltshire
. His wife Lady Susan Hussey
is a Woman of the Bedchamber
to Elizabeth II and is also godmother to The Duke of Cambridge. His daughter, Katharine, married Francis Brooke and had three children: George Francis Geoffrey Brooke, Olivia Nancy Brooke, and Sarah Mary Brooke. His son, James Hussey, married Emma Shelley and had three children: Rose Hussey, Arthur Hussey, and Helena Hussey.
Marmaduke Hussey died at the age of 83 on 27 December 2006.
Board of Governors of the BBC
The Board of Governors of the BBC was the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It consisted of twelve people who together regulated the BBC and represented the interests of the public. It existed from 1927 until it was replaced by the BBC Trust on 1 January 2007.The governors...
from 1986 to 1996, fulfilling two terms in that role.
Hussey was educated at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
. He served in the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was severely injured at Anzio
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
, having to have a leg amputated as a prisoner-of-war, which resulted in his repatriation. He joined Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers is a large national newspaper publisher in the UK, which is a subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust. The group was established in 1905 and is currently based at Northcliffe House in Kensington...
where he had a long career, culminating in the position of managing director, before joining Times Newspapers as chief executive and managing director, a post he held from 1971-1980.
He was appointed Chairman of 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...
in 1986, upon the death of Stuart Young
Stuart Young (1934-1986)
Stuart Young was an English business executive and accountant.Stuart was the brother of a former UK cabinet minister David Young, Baron Young of Graffham. He succeeded George Howard as the chairman of the BBC board of governors in 1983 and remained in this role until his early death from cancer...
, thanks in part to his close connections to the ruling 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...
. Within three months of joining the BBC, he had forced the resignation of the Director-General, Alasdair Milne
Alasdair Milne
Alasdair David Gordon Milne is a former BBC producer who became Controller of BBC Scotland, the BBC's Director of Programmes and then Director-General of the BBC in July 1982. His resignation was forced by the BBC Governors in January 1987, following pressure from the Thatcher government...
, following a series of rows in recent years between the BBC and the Conservative government. In the 1990s, Hussey fell out with Director General John Birt over his management style and Panorama
Panorama
A panorama is any wide-angle view or representation of a physical space, whether in painting, drawing, photography, film/video, or a three-dimensional model....
’s controversial interview with Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
in 1995.
Hussey gave up several boardroom appointments when he took up his job at the BBC, but he remained chairman of the Royal Marsden Hospital until 1998.
On 11 September 1996, Hussey was made 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...
as Baron Hussey of North Bradley, of North Bradley in the County of Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. His wife Lady Susan Hussey
Susan Hussey, Baroness Hussey of North Bradley
Susan Hussey, Baroness Hussey of North Bradley, DCVO is a Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II.She was born Lady Susan Katherine Waldegrave, the fifth and youngest daughter of the 12th Earl Waldegrave...
is a Woman of the Bedchamber
Woman of the Bedchamber
In the Royal Household of the United Kingdom the term Woman of the Bedchamber is used to describe a woman attending either a queen regnant or queen consort, in the role of Lady-in-Waiting...
to Elizabeth II and is also godmother to The Duke of Cambridge. His daughter, Katharine, married Francis Brooke and had three children: George Francis Geoffrey Brooke, Olivia Nancy Brooke, and Sarah Mary Brooke. His son, James Hussey, married Emma Shelley and had three children: Rose Hussey, Arthur Hussey, and Helena Hussey.
Marmaduke Hussey died at the age of 83 on 27 December 2006.