Tim Heywood
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Beresford Heywood MBE DL (July 12, 1914-June 15, 2006), known as Tim Heywood, was a soldier and bureaucrat. He served as the chief signals officer of the Long Range Desert Group
(LRDG) in the Second World War. In later life, he was president of the Country Landowners' Association (CLA) and founder president of the European Landowners' Association.
Heywood was born in Newcastle
. His father was a stockbroker. He was educated at Eton
, where he built radios in his spare time. He became an accountant, and was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals
(Middlesex Yeomanry
) in 1939. His regiment was sent to Palestine
with the 1st Cavalry Division
in 1940. He volunteered to join the Long Range Desert Group
and was interviewed by Major Ralph Bagnold and Captain Bill Shaw
in Cairo
. He joined the LRDG and became its chief signals officer in August 1941, in charge of its special radio equipment, its codes, and the communications group at the Group's headquarters. After fighting for three years in North Africa
, and a spell in Lebanon
and the Greek islands, the Group moved to Bari
in south Italy
, from which it raided Corfu
and operated in the Dalmatian islands and Yugoslavia
.
Heywood was demobilised as a Major, and was awarded the MBE. After the war, his godmother
gave him her estate in Gloucestershire
. He attended the Royal Agricultural College
in Cirencester
, and became a farmer. He became active in landowners' representative associations, including the County Agricultural Executive Committee, the Country Landowners' Association and the Severn River Authority. A convinced European, he provided much of the impetus behind the formation of the European Landowners' Association as the UK moved to join the European Economic Community
, and was its founder president in 1972. He was president of the CLA the following year.
He was successively a governor, chairman of the governors (1980-1985), and vice-president of the Royal Agricultural College. During his time as president, the College was approved to award academic degree
s, and admitted the first women. He was awarded the College's Bledisloe Gold Medal in 1989 for services to agriculture. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant
of Gloucestershire, district commissioner of the Boy Scouts
, and a general commissioner of income tax
In addition to heavy programme of good works, Heywood enjoyed sailing. He was a member of the crew of Gulvain
in 1950 when it performed well in the Newport Bermuda Race and when it came home first in the first post-war transatlantic race
, from Bermuda
to Plymouth
, immediately afterwards. He was a founder member of the Ocean Cruising Club
, and was its second Commodore after Humphrey Barton.
He married twice, first in 1946 (later divorced) and again in 1977. He was survived by his second wife, and a son and two daughters from his first marriage.
Long Range Desert Group
The Long Range Desert Group was a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during the Second World War. The commander of the German Afrika Corps, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, admitted that the LRDG "caused us more damage than any other British unit of equal strength".Originally called...
(LRDG) in the Second World War. In later life, he was president of the Country Landowners' Association (CLA) and founder president of the European Landowners' Association.
Heywood was born in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. His father was a stockbroker. He was educated at Eton
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"....
, where he built radios in his spare time. He became an accountant, and was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
(Middlesex Yeomanry
Middlesex Yeomanry
The 47 Signal Squadron is a unit of the Royal Corps of Signals within the British Territorial Army.During the Napoleonic Wars that the Gentlemen of Uxbridge sought permission from the Government to form a Military Association to maintain law and order when the Regular Forces were sent to the coast...
) in 1939. His regiment was sent to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
with the 1st Cavalry Division
British 1st Cavalry Division
The 1st Cavalry Division was a regular Division of the British Army during the First World War where it fought on the Western Front. During the Second World War it was a second line formation, formed from Yeomanry Regiments...
in 1940. He volunteered to join the Long Range Desert Group
Long Range Desert Group
The Long Range Desert Group was a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during the Second World War. The commander of the German Afrika Corps, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, admitted that the LRDG "caused us more damage than any other British unit of equal strength".Originally called...
and was interviewed by Major Ralph Bagnold and Captain Bill Shaw
Bill Kennedy Shaw
Major William Boyd Kennedy Shaw OBE was a British desert explorer, botanist, archaeologist and founding member of the Long Range Desert Group during World War II...
in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. He joined the LRDG and became its chief signals officer in August 1941, in charge of its special radio equipment, its codes, and the communications group at the Group's headquarters. After fighting for three years in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and a spell in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and the Greek islands, the Group moved to Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
in south Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, from which it raided Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
and operated in the Dalmatian islands and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
.
Heywood was demobilised as a Major, and was awarded the MBE. After the war, his godmother
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
gave him her estate in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. He attended the Royal Agricultural College
Royal Agricultural College
The Royal Agricultural College is a higher education institution located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Established in 1845, it was the first agricultural college in the English speaking world...
in Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
, and became a farmer. He became active in landowners' representative associations, including the County Agricultural Executive Committee, the Country Landowners' Association and the Severn River Authority. A convinced European, he provided much of the impetus behind the formation of the European Landowners' Association as the UK moved to join 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...
, and was its founder president in 1972. He was president of the CLA the following year.
He was successively a governor, chairman of the governors (1980-1985), and vice-president of the Royal Agricultural College. During his time as president, the College was approved to award academic degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
s, and admitted the first women. He was awarded the College's Bledisloe Gold Medal in 1989 for services to agriculture. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Gloucestershire, district commissioner of the Boy Scouts
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
, and a general commissioner of income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
In addition to heavy programme of good works, Heywood enjoyed sailing. He was a member of the crew of Gulvain
Gulvain
Gulvain is a 55-ft ocean-racing sloop named after the mountain Gaor Bheinn . Designed by Jack Laurent Giles for Jack Rawlings, she was based on the earlier boats Maid of Malham and Myth of Malham. She was built in Shoreham by Sussex Shipbuilding Company, owned by Rawlings, and launched on 27...
in 1950 when it performed well in the Newport Bermuda Race and when it came home first in the first post-war transatlantic race
Yacht racing
Yacht racing is the sport of competitive yachting.While sailing groups organize the most active and popular competitive yachting, other boating events are also held world-wide: speed motorboat racing; competitive canoeing, kayaking, and rowing; model yachting; and navigational contests Yacht racing...
, from Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
to Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, immediately afterwards. He was a founder member of the Ocean Cruising Club
Ocean Cruising Club
The Ocean Cruising Club is an international club administered from the UK for cruisers. Members are identified by a distinctive blue and yellow burgee with a stylized Flying Fish on the blue part of the flag....
, and was its second Commodore after Humphrey Barton.
He married twice, first in 1946 (later divorced) and again in 1977. He was survived by his second wife, and a son and two daughters from his first marriage.