Peter Pilkington, Baron Pilkington of Oxenford
Encyclopedia
Peter Pilkington, Baron Pilkington of Oxenford (5 September 1933 – 14 February 2011
) was a British public school headmaster and a Conservative
member of the House of Lords
.
Pilkington was educated at Dame Allan's School, Newcastle
where he came to faith and developed both his love of scholarship and his combative personality. In 1952 he went up to Jesus College, Cambridge
and read history, being influenced by Conservative-minded figures such as Maurice Cowling
, Herbert Butterfield
and Michael Oakeshott
. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1959 and was a schoolmaster (History teacher and Chaplain - later Conduct) at Eton College
from 1962 to 1976 (Master in College
— the scholars' house — for much of the time), headmaster of The King's School, Canterbury
from 1975 to 1986 and High Master of St Paul's School, London from 1986 to 1992.
He was Chairman of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission from 1992 to 1996. In 1995, he was made a life peer
as Baron Pilkington of Oxenford, of West Dowlish in the County of Somerset
.
His wife died in 1997. He is survived by two daughters.
) was a British public school headmaster and a Conservative
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...
member of 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....
.
Pilkington was educated at Dame Allan's School, Newcastle
Dame Allan's School, Newcastle
Dame Allan's Schools were founded in Newcastle upon Tyne in England in 1705, and are two of the oldest schools in the city.-History:They were founded by Dame Eleanor Allan, the daughter of a local goldsmith and the widow of a tobacco merchant, to provide a proper education for "40 poor boys and 20...
where he came to faith and developed both his love of scholarship and his combative personality. In 1952 he went up to Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
and read history, being influenced by Conservative-minded figures such as Maurice Cowling
Maurice Cowling
Maurice John Cowling was a British historian and a Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge.-Life:Cowling was born in Norwood, South London, to a lower middle-class family. His family then moved to Streatham, where Cowling attended an LCC elementary school, and from 1937 the Battersea Grammar School...
, Herbert Butterfield
Herbert Butterfield
Sir Herbert Butterfield was a British historian and philosopher of history who is remembered chiefly for two books—a short volume early in his career entitled The Whig Interpretation of History and his Origins of Modern Science...
and Michael Oakeshott
Michael Oakeshott
Michael Joseph Oakeshott was an English philosopher and political theorist who wrote about philosophy of history, philosophy of religion, aesthetics, and philosophy of law...
. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1959 and was a schoolmaster (History teacher and Chaplain - later Conduct) at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
from 1962 to 1976 (Master in College
Master in College
Master in College is the title of the master responsible for College, the oldest boarding house at Eton College, which is reserved for the seventy King's Scholars....
— the scholars' house — for much of the time), headmaster of The King's School, Canterbury
The King's School, Canterbury
The King's School is a British co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils in the historic English cathedral city of Canterbury in Kent. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the Eton Group....
from 1975 to 1986 and High Master of St Paul's School, London from 1986 to 1992.
He was Chairman of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission from 1992 to 1996. In 1995, he 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 Pilkington of Oxenford, of West Dowlish in the County of Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.
His wife died in 1997. He is survived by two daughters.