Richard Marsh, Baron Marsh
Encyclopedia
Richard William Marsh, Baron Marsh PC
(14 March 1928 – 29 July 2011) was an English politician
and business executive.
Marsh was educated at Woolwich Polytechnic
and was elected as Labour Party
Member of Parliament
(MP) for Greenwich
at the 1959 general election
. He served in the second Wilson Government as the Minister of Power (1966–68), and in the Cabinet
as Minister of Transport (1968–69). When appointed to the transport ministry he let it be known that (unlike Barbara Castle
, his predecessor in the post) he was a motorist, though he insisted that the family car, a Ford Cortina
was run by his wife while he relied on ministerial cars for his transport needs. He was also reported as having taught his father to drive, but having given up trying to perform the same favour for his wife, applying what forty years later appears as imprudent candour in characterizing the attempt as "traumatic". In 1975 Marsh's second wife Caroline died in a road accident in which the wife of broadcaster David Jacobs
also lost her life; Marsh and Jacobs both survived the crash.
He left the House of Commons
in 1971 to become Chairman of the British Railways Board
, a position he held until 1976. He received a Knighthood and later a life peerage as Baron Marsh of Mannington in the County of Wiltshire
in 1981. He then sat in the House of Lords
as a Crossbench peer
.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(14 March 1928 – 29 July 2011) was an English politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and business executive.
Marsh was educated at Woolwich Polytechnic
University of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich is a British university located in the London Borough of Greenwich, London, England. The main campus is located on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, a central location within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:The history of the...
and was elected as Labour Party
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...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Greenwich
Greenwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Greenwich was a parliamentary constituency in South-East London, which returned Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1997 by the first past the post system.-History:...
at the 1959 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1959
This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan...
. He served in the second Wilson Government as the Minister of Power (1966–68), and in the Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
as Minister of Transport (1968–69). When appointed to the transport ministry he let it be known that (unlike Barbara Castle
Barbara Castle
Barbara Anne Castle, Baroness Castle of Blackburn , PC, GCOT was a British Labour Party politician....
, his predecessor in the post) he was a motorist, though he insisted that the family car, a Ford Cortina
Ford Cortina
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...
was run by his wife while he relied on ministerial cars for his transport needs. He was also reported as having taught his father to drive, but having given up trying to perform the same favour for his wife, applying what forty years later appears as imprudent candour in characterizing the attempt as "traumatic". In 1975 Marsh's second wife Caroline died in a road accident in which the wife of broadcaster David Jacobs
David Jacobs (disc jockey)
David Lewis Jacobs CBE is a British actor and broadcaster who gained prominence as presenter of the peak-time BBC Television show Juke Box Jury and the BBC Radio 4 political forum, Any Questions?-Early career:...
also lost her life; Marsh and Jacobs both survived the crash.
He left the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1971 to become Chairman of the British Railways Board
British Railways Board
The British Railways Board was a nationalised industry in the United Kingdom that existed from 1962 to 2001. From its foundation until 1997, it was responsible for most railway services in Great Britain, trading under the brand names British Railways and, from 1965, British Rail...
, a position he held until 1976. He received a Knighthood and later a life peerage as Baron Marsh of Mannington 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...
in 1981. He then sat 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....
as a Crossbench peer
Cross-bencher
A crossbencher is an independent or minor party member of some legislatures, such as the British House of Lords and Australian Senate. They take their name from the crossbenches, between and perpendicular to the government and opposition benches, where crossbenchers sit in the chamber; compare...
.