Martin Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gresford
Encyclopedia
Donald Martin Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gresford, OBE
, QC
(born 13 March 1937) is a British
Liberal Democrat
politician
.
Educated at Grove Park Grammar School, Wrexham
, and at Peterhouse, Cambridge University, he graduated with an LLB
in Law
and an MA
in Classics
. He practiced as a solicitor
in Wrexham from 1961–1966 before becoming a lecturer in Law
. He was called to the bar at Gray's Inn
in 1967, and was appointed a QC
in 1979. He became a deputy circuit judge in 1974, a Crown Court
Recorder
in 1976, and a Deputy High Court judge
in 1995.
He was raised to the peerage as Baron Thomas of Gresford, of Gresford in the County Borough of Wrexham in 1996, whereupon he took the Liberal Democrat Whip
. Since then he has been a spokesman on Wales
and Home Affairs, and has sat on a number of committees. His political interests include Hong Kong
, China
, criminal justice, and Wales.
Thomas married Nan Kerr in 1961 with whom he had three sons and one daughter. She died in 2000. In 2005, he married fellow Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Walmsley
. He and his wife are one of the few couples who both hold titles in their own right.
Lord Thomas is a Vice-President of the Lloyd George Society
.
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...
, QC
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...
(born 13 March 1937) is 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...
Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Educated at Grove Park Grammar School, Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, and at Peterhouse, Cambridge University, he graduated with an LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and an MA
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
in Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
. He practiced as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
in Wrexham from 1961–1966 before becoming a lecturer in Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. He was called to the bar at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, 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...
in 1967, and was appointed a QC
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 1979. He became a deputy circuit judge in 1974, a Crown Court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
in 1976, and a Deputy High Court judge
High Court judge
A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
in 1995.
He was raised to the peerage as Baron Thomas of Gresford, of Gresford in the County Borough of Wrexham in 1996, whereupon he took the Liberal Democrat Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
. Since then he has been a spokesman on Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Home Affairs, and has sat on a number of committees. His political interests include Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, criminal justice, and Wales.
Thomas married Nan Kerr in 1961 with whom he had three sons and one daughter. She died in 2000. In 2005, he married fellow Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Walmsley
Joan Walmsley, Baroness Walmsley
Joan Margaret Walmsley, Baroness Walmsley is a British Liberal Democrat politician. She is currently the party spokesperson on Children, Schools and Families in the House of Lords....
. He and his wife are one of the few couples who both hold titles in their own right.
Lord Thomas is a Vice-President of the Lloyd George Society
Lloyd George Society
The Lloyd George Society is an organisation connected to, but not formally affiliated to, the United Kingdom political party the Liberal Democrats. It is named after David Lloyd George, the Welsh Liberal politician who was British prime minister from 1916-1922. The Society was founded in the late...
.
External links
- Lord Thomas of Gresford profile at the site of Liberal Democrats
- http://lloydgeorgesociety.org.uk Website of the Lloyd George Society