Sir Bruce Fraser
Encyclopedia
Sir Bruce Donald Fraser, KCB
(1910–1993), was a British
civil servant. He served in the Scottish Office
(1933), HM Treasury
(1936–1960), the Ministry of Aviation
(1960), the Ministry of Health (1960–1964), the Department of Education and Science (1964–1965), the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources (1965–1966). He finished his civil service career as Comptroller and Auditor General
, the head of the Exchequer and Audit Department (now the National Audit Office
) from 1966–1971.
In the period from 1966–1968, Fraser served as External Auditor of the International Maritime Organization
(IMO), which was formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO).
He is probably best known now for revising Sir Ernest Gowers
’ classic book The Complete Plain Words, written to teach officials and others how to write clearly. By the early 1970s the language had moved on from the post-war era when Gowers had written the first edition. The publisher, HMSO, felt the need to publish an updated version, despite some resistance to tampering with a classic.
Fraser was widely judged to have succeeded. His style is more robust than the elegant Gowers, though he is just as masterly in his use of the language. Stylistically they have been compared to George Lyttelton (Gowers) and Rupert Hart-Davis
(Fraser) of the Lyttelton/Hart-Davis Letters
. Both editions can be read for pleasure as well as instruction. Fraser enlivens the text with such howlers as:
Fraser adds, ‘Let us not be too censorious about passages like these. They are careless, of course, but they add to the gaiety of life. Let him who is quite sure he has never committed one cast the first stone.’ (Note how in 1973 an official style guide did not feel the need to use gender-neutral language. By the time of the next edition (see next paragraph) there were many pages devoted to that subject. 'Tempora mutantur', Fraser might have remarked, had he not been averse to gratuitous insertion of Latin tags into plain English prose.)
In its turn the Fraser edition of Plain Words grew out of date and was superseded in 1986 by a complete revision by two academics, which remains instructive but is perhaps less likely to be read for pleasure.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(1910–1993), was 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...
civil servant. He served in the Scottish Office
Scottish Office
The Scottish Office was a department of the United Kingdom Government from 1885 until 1999, exercising a wide range of government functions in relation to Scotland under the control of the Secretary of State for Scotland...
(1933), HM Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
(1936–1960), the Ministry of Aviation
Ministry of Aviation
Ministry of Aviation was a department of the United Kingdom government, established in 1959. Its responsibilities included the regulation of civil aviation and the supply of military aircraft, which it took on from the Ministry of Supply....
(1960), the Ministry of Health (1960–1964), the Department of Education and Science (1964–1965), the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources (1965–1966). He finished his civil service career as Comptroller and Auditor General
Comptroller and Auditor General
Comptroller and auditor-general is the abbreviated title of a government official in a number of jurisdictions, including the UK, the Republic of Ireland, India, and China....
, the head of the Exchequer and Audit Department (now the National Audit Office
National Audit Office (United Kingdom)
The National Audit Office is an independent Parliamentary body in the United Kingdom which is responsible for auditing central government departments, government agencies and non-departmental public bodies...
) from 1966–1971.
In the period from 1966–1968, Fraser served as External Auditor of the International Maritime Organization
International Maritime Organization
The International Maritime Organization , formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization , was established in Geneva in 1948, and came into force ten years later, meeting for the first time in 1959...
(IMO), which was formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO).
He is probably best known now for revising Sir Ernest Gowers
Ernest Gowers
Sir Ernest Arthur Gowers GCB GBE Hon. D.Litt Hon. ARIBA was a British civil servant, now best known for work on style guides for writing the English language.-Life:...
’ classic book The Complete Plain Words, written to teach officials and others how to write clearly. By the early 1970s the language had moved on from the post-war era when Gowers had written the first edition. The publisher, HMSO, felt the need to publish an updated version, despite some resistance to tampering with a classic.
Fraser was widely judged to have succeeded. His style is more robust than the elegant Gowers, though he is just as masterly in his use of the language. Stylistically they have been compared to George Lyttelton (Gowers) and Rupert Hart-Davis
Rupert Hart-Davis
Sir Rupert Charles Hart-Davis was an English publisher, editor and man of letters. He founded the publishing company Rupert Hart-Davis Ltd...
(Fraser) of the Lyttelton/Hart-Davis Letters
Lyttelton/Hart-Davis Letters
The Lyttelton/Hart-Davis Letters are a correspondence between two literary Englishmen, written in the 1950s and 1960s and published in the late 1970s and early 1980s.-History:...
. Both editions can be read for pleasure as well as instruction. Fraser enlivens the text with such howlers as:
- I have discussed the question of stocking the proposed poultry plant with my colleagues.
- Bulletin No. 160 on Housing of Pigs from Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
- Authority is given for you to proceed and gas, preferably yourself
- It was here that the Emperor liked to put on his grand alfresco spectacles.
- Nothing is less likely to appeal to a young woman than the opinions of old men on the pill.
- People in the South East keep their teeth longer than people in the North.
- Prices of different models vary and you should take the advice of an expert on the make.
- Ladies who have kindly undertaken to act as school crossing wardens are reminded again that if they attempt to carry out their duties without their clothing on motorists are unlikely to take notice of them.
Fraser adds, ‘Let us not be too censorious about passages like these. They are careless, of course, but they add to the gaiety of life. Let him who is quite sure he has never committed one cast the first stone.’ (Note how in 1973 an official style guide did not feel the need to use gender-neutral language. By the time of the next edition (see next paragraph) there were many pages devoted to that subject. 'Tempora mutantur', Fraser might have remarked, had he not been averse to gratuitous insertion of Latin tags into plain English prose.)
In its turn the Fraser edition of Plain Words grew out of date and was superseded in 1986 by a complete revision by two academics, which remains instructive but is perhaps less likely to be read for pleasure.
Honours
- Companion of the Order of the BathOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(CBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
), 1956. - Knight Commander of the Order of the BathOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(KCBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
), 1961.