Richard Mayne (administrator)
Encyclopedia
Richard John Mayne was a British
advocate for European integration, journalist, broadcaster and writer.
Mayne was born in North London and educated at St Paul's School in London. Towards the end of the war, because of his linguistic abilities, he was chosen for the Special Operations Executive
(SOE), but spent most of his time in the forces with a signals unit. In 1947 he went up to Trinity College, Cambridge
where he read History, gaining a starred first-class degree. Work for his PhD in 1953, having gained a Leverhulme grant, necessitated a period working in the Vatican Library
. From Rome, he began to write for the New Statesman
and The Spectator
.
He joined the 'High Authority' of the European Coal and Steel Community
in Luxembourg in 1956 and became an advisor to Jean Monnet
, then Walter Hallstein
, first President of the European Commission (1958-63). He succeeded François Duchêne as director of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe in 1963, and became Monnet's personal assistant. He later translated Monnet's memoirs into English, for which he won the Scott Moncrieff Prize
in 1979.
Mayne became the European Commission
's chief representative in 1969, (Head of the London office 1973-76) and was involved in the campaign favouring continued membership of the European Economic Community
(EEC) during the UK's 1975 referendum. He stepped down from working for the EEC when his outlook clashed with attitudes held by Margaret Thatcher
following her government's election in 1979.
From 1966 he was the Paris correspondent for Encounter
, later writing a personal column for the magazine. Mayne also contributed to The Sunday Times
and The Observer
. A prolific author and regular broadcaster for the BBC
, he became a book reviewer and film critic for The Sunday Telegraph in the 1980s.
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...
advocate for European integration, journalist, broadcaster and writer.
Mayne was born in North London and educated at St Paul's School in London. Towards the end of the war, because of his linguistic abilities, he was chosen for the Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
(SOE), but spent most of his time in the forces with a signals unit. In 1947 he went up to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
where he read History, gaining a starred first-class degree. Work for his PhD in 1953, having gained a Leverhulme grant, necessitated a period working in the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
. From Rome, he began to write for the New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
and The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
.
He joined the 'High Authority' of the European Coal and Steel Community
European Coal and Steel Community
The European Coal and Steel Community was a six-nation international organisation serving to unify Western Europe during the Cold War and create the foundation for the modern-day developments of the European Union...
in Luxembourg in 1956 and became an advisor to Jean Monnet
Jean Monnet
Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet was a French political economist and diplomat. He is regarded by many as a chief architect of European Unity and is regarded as one of its founding fathers...
, then Walter Hallstein
Walter Hallstein
Walter Hallstein was a German politician and professor.He was one of the key figures of European integration after World War II, becoming the first President of the Commission of the European Economic Community, serving from 1958 to 1967. He famously defined his position as "a kind of Prime...
, first President of the European Commission (1958-63). He succeeded François Duchêne as director of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe in 1963, and became Monnet's personal assistant. He later translated Monnet's memoirs into English, for which he won the Scott Moncrieff Prize
Scott Moncrieff Prize
The Scott Moncrieff Prize, named after the translator C. K. Scott Moncrieff, is an annual £2,000 literary prize for French to English translation, awarded to one or more translators every year for a full-length work deemed by the Translators Association to have "literary merit"...
in 1979.
Mayne became the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
's chief representative in 1969, (Head of the London office 1973-76) and was involved in the campaign favouring continued membership of the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
(EEC) during the UK's 1975 referendum. He stepped down from working for the EEC when his outlook clashed with attitudes held by Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
following her government's election in 1979.
From 1966 he was the Paris correspondent for Encounter
Encounter (magazine)
Encounter was a literary magazine, founded in 1953 by poet Stephen Spender and early neoconservative author Irving Kristol. The magazine ceased publication in 1991...
, later writing a personal column for the magazine. Mayne also contributed to The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
and The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
. A prolific author and regular broadcaster for 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...
, he became a book reviewer and film critic for The Sunday Telegraph in the 1980s.