Patricia Rawlings, Baroness Rawlings
Encyclopedia
Patricia Elizabeth Rawlings, Baroness Rawlings (born 1939) is a Conservative Party
politician and frontbencher
in the House of Lords
. She was a Member of the European Parliament
(MEP) from 1989 to 1994.
Baroness Rawlings was Chairman of King's College London
Council 1998–2007, and she was made a Fellow of the university in 2003. She has been President of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations since 2002, and President of the British Antique Dealers' Association since 2005. She is also a trustee of the Chevening Estate.
. She trained as a nurse at Westminster Hospital
and is an active member of the British Red Cross
(she was awarded the British Red Cross national Badge of Honour in 1987). She was a mature student at University College London
and studied for a postgraduate diploma in International Relations from the London School of Economics
. She was awarded an Hon
DLitt
from the University of Buckingham
in 1998.
for Essex South West
. That constituency was abolished for the 1994 European election when she was surprisingly defeated by Labour's
Hugh Kerr
in the new Essex West & Hertfordshire East
constituency. She entered the House of Lords as a life peer
with the title Baroness Rawlings, of Burnham Westgate in the County of Norfolk
in 1994 and has held several frontbench positions. She served as an Opposition Whip (1997–1998), Spokesperson on Culture, Media & Sport (1997-1998), Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs
(1998–2010) and International Development (1998–2010).
Since the 2010 general election, she has served as the Government Whip with responsibility for Culture, Media & Sport and for Scotland
.
. King's had instructed Jones Lang LaSalle
to value the site, resulting in a valuation of £10 million. An offer to buy the land for up to £24 million came unexpectedly from the Aga Khan Development Network
, causing opposition from St Thomas’. It was rumoured that Baroness Rawlings had engineered the unsolicited offer which she strenuously denied, saying that as Chairman of King's College London Council she knew absolutely nothing about any such bid. Baroness Rawlings insisted that it was a valuable part of the King’s College London estate and that it should be sold to the highest bidder on the open market. The College eventually decided to retain the property.
, now Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale, but divorced in 1967; both partners held noble titles in their own right. In 1971, she was engaged to American oil tycoon Ralph Stolkin, who broke off their engagemnet and demanded the return of £250,000 worth of diamonds and rubies in a High Court case. From about 1994 until 2009 Rawlings was with Rugby-educated banker the Hon Dr Paul Zuckerman, son of zoologist Baron Zuckerman.
She is an Honorary Secretary of Grillions Club, and a member of the Pilgrims Society
.
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...
politician and frontbencher
Frontbencher
In many parliaments and other similar assemblies, seating is typically arranged in banks or rows, with each political party or caucus grouped together. The spokespeople for each group will often sit at the front of their group, and are then known as being on the frontbench and are described as...
in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. She was a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
(MEP) from 1989 to 1994.
Baroness Rawlings was Chairman of King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
Council 1998–2007, and she was made a Fellow of the university in 2003. She has been President of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations since 2002, and President of the British Antique Dealers' Association since 2005. She is also a trustee of the Chevening Estate.
Education
Baroness Rawlings was educated in the United Kingdom and SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. She trained as a nurse at Westminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital was a hospital in London, England, founded in 1719. In 1834 a medical school attached to the hospital was formally founded....
and is an active member of the British Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
(she was awarded the British Red Cross national Badge of Honour in 1987). She was a mature student at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
and studied for a postgraduate diploma in International Relations from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. She was awarded an Hon
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
DLitt
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
in 1998.
Political career
Rawlings was elected at the 1989 European election as the MEPMember of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for Essex South West
Essex South West (European Parliament constituency)
Essex South West was a constituency of the European Parliament located in the United Kingdom, electing one Member of the European Parliament by the first-past-the-post electoral system...
. That constituency was abolished for the 1994 European election when she was surprisingly defeated by Labour's
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...
Hugh Kerr
Hugh Kerr
Hugh Kerr is a Scottish politician and a former lecturer in social policy at the University of East London...
in the new Essex West & Hertfordshire East
Essex West and Hertfordshire East (European Parliament constituency)
Essex West and Hertfordshire East was a constituency of the European Parliament located in the United Kingdom, electing one Member of the European Parliament by the first-past-the-post electoral system. Created in 1994 from parts of Hertfordshire and Essex South West, it was abolished in 1999 on...
constituency. She entered the House of Lords as 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 Baroness Rawlings, of Burnham Westgate in the County of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
in 1994 and has held several frontbench positions. She served as an Opposition Whip (1997–1998), Spokesperson on Culture, Media & Sport (1997-1998), Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
(1998–2010) and International Development (1998–2010).
Since the 2010 general election, she has served as the Government Whip with responsibility for Culture, Media & Sport and for Scotland
Scotland Office
The Scotland Office is a United Kingdom government department headed by the Secretary of State for Scotland and responsible for Scottish affairs...
.
Controversy
In 2002, Baroness Rawlings became involved in a controversy over a 1.8-acre (7,300 m2) piece of land, owned by King's College London, and formerly owned by St Thomas' HospitalSt Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital is a large NHS hospital in London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It has provided health care freely or under charitable auspices since the 12th century and was originally located in Southwark.St Thomas' Hospital is accessible...
. King's had instructed Jones Lang LaSalle
Jones Lang LaSalle
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. is a multinational financial and professional services company specializing in real estate. Global headquarters are located in Chicago, with an operational remit covering the Americas regional market...
to value the site, resulting in a valuation of £10 million. An offer to buy the land for up to £24 million came unexpectedly from the Aga Khan Development Network
Aga Khan Development Network
The Aga Khan Development Network is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies that seek to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East...
, causing opposition from St Thomas’. It was rumoured that Baroness Rawlings had engineered the unsolicited offer which she strenuously denied, saying that as Chairman of King's College London Council she knew absolutely nothing about any such bid. Baroness Rawlings insisted that it was a valuable part of the King’s College London estate and that it should be sold to the highest bidder on the open market. The College eventually decided to retain the property.
Foreign orders and decorations
- Patricia Rawlings is the first British woman to be awarded the Order of the Rose (Silver), which was bestowed upon her by President Zhelyu ZhelevZhelyu ZhelevZhelyu Mitev Zhelev is a Bulgarian politician and former dissident who was the first democratically elected President of Bulgaria, he is elected for his first mandate by the Parliament for the period 1990 to 1992, in January 1992 general elections are held when he is reelected for his second...
of BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, in recognition of her interest in Bulgaria. Rawlings is permitted to wear the decoration whenever she visits Bulgaria or goes to the Bulgarian embassy. - For services to Anglo-Brazilian relations, she was awarded the Grand Official, Order of the Southern CrossOrder of the Southern CrossThe National Order of the Southern Cross is a Brazilian order of chivalry founded by Emperor Pedro I on 1 December 1822. This order was intended to commemorate the independence of Brazil and the coronation of Pedro I...
from the Republic of BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
in 1998.
Personal life
Patricia Rawlings was married in 1962 to businessman David WolfsonDavid Wolfson, Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale
David Wolfson, Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale is a British politician and businessman.The son of Charles and Hylda Wolfson was educated in Clifton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Master of Arts in economics and law in 1956...
, now Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale, but divorced in 1967; both partners held noble titles in their own right. In 1971, she was engaged to American oil tycoon Ralph Stolkin, who broke off their engagemnet and demanded the return of £250,000 worth of diamonds and rubies in a High Court case. From about 1994 until 2009 Rawlings was with Rugby-educated banker the Hon Dr Paul Zuckerman, son of zoologist Baron Zuckerman.
She is an Honorary Secretary of Grillions Club, and a member of the Pilgrims Society
Pilgrims Society
The Pilgrims Society, founded in 1902, is a British-American society established, in the words of American diplomat Joseph Choate, 'to promote good-will, good-fellowship, and everlasting peace between the United States and Great Britain'...
.
External links
- Patricia Rawlings conservatives.com
- Biography of Baroness Rawlings www.parliament.uk
- Bulgarian Order of the Rose (Silver)