Adrian Darby
Encyclopedia
Adrian Marten George Darby, OBE
(born 25 September 1937) is a British conservationist
and academic. He is the son of Col. Cyril Darby MC, of Kemerton Court
, Gloucestershire and Monica Dunne, daughter of Marten Dunne, MP
of Gatley Park, Herefordshire. He is married to acupuncturist Lady Meriel Darby, daughter of the former Prime Minister
Alec Douglas-Home
, and has one son, Matthew
, and one daughter, Catherine.
at Keble College, Oxford University (1963–1985), and visiting lecturer in environmental economics
at the University of Pennsylvania
in 1978.
He subsequently served as chairman of Europe’s largest nature conservation organization the RSPB (1986–1993), and became vice-president from 1996 onwards. He founded the Kemerton Conservation Trust
in 1989. Darby was chairman of Plantlife International
1994-2002, and president from 2005 onwards. He was chairman of Planta Europa
1998-2004. In 1995 he became a trustee of the Herpetological Conservation Trust
. He served as chairman of the UK Committee of the World Conservation Union
(1996–1999). From 1997 he sat on the board of the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency. He served as chairman of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee
of the United Kingdom from 2004-2007. Darby was appointed OBE for services to nature conservation in 1996.
; a fellow (governor) of Eton College
(1979–1994); a county committee member of the Country Landowners Association. Since 1998 he has been a Liberal Democrat
councillor for Wychavon District Council in Worcestershire
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 25 September 1937) is a British conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
and academic. He is the son of Col. Cyril Darby MC, of Kemerton Court
Kemerton Court
Kemerton Court is the principal manor house of the village of Kemerton, near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire.The manor was granted by King Henry III to Sir Robert de Musgrove in 1240...
, Gloucestershire and Monica Dunne, daughter of Marten Dunne, MP
Edward Marten Dunne
Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Marten Dunne was a British army officer and Liberal politician.He was the third son of Thomas Dunne of Gatley Park and Bircher Hall, Herefordshire and his wife, Harriet...
of Gatley Park, Herefordshire. He is married to acupuncturist Lady Meriel Darby, daughter of the former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Alec Douglas-Home
Alec Douglas-Home
Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel, KT, PC , known as The Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963 and as Sir Alec Douglas-Home from 1963 to 1974, was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1963 to October 1964.He is the last...
, and has one son, Matthew
Matthew Darby
Matthew George Darby, is a British publisher, conservationist and landscape designer. He was educated at the University of Edinburgh. He is the son of Adrian Darby and Lady Meriel Darby, daughter of former British Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home...
, and one daughter, Catherine.
Academic & conservation career
Darby was a fellow and tutor in economicsEconomics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at Keble College, Oxford University (1963–1985), and visiting lecturer in environmental economics
Environmental economics
Environmental economics is a subfield of economics concerned with environmental issues. Quoting from the National Bureau of Economic Research Environmental Economics program:...
at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1978.
He subsequently served as chairman of Europe’s largest nature conservation organization the RSPB (1986–1993), and became vice-president from 1996 onwards. He founded the Kemerton Conservation Trust
Kemerton Conservation Trust
Kemerton Conservation Trust is a registered charity which aims "to conserve wildlife and places of beauty in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and adjoining counties for the public benefit." Much of the Trust’s activity takes place in the area surrounding Bredon Hill in south...
in 1989. Darby was chairman of Plantlife International
Plantlife
Plantlife is a wild plant conservation charity. As of 2007, its membership was 10,500 and it owned 23 nature reserves around the UK.-History:It was founded in 1989 with its first President being Professor David Bellamy. By 1999 it had 22 nature reserves....
1994-2002, and president from 2005 onwards. He was chairman of Planta Europa
Planta Europa
Planta Europa is the network of independent organisations, non-governmental and governmental, working together to conserve European wild plants and fungi. It brings together more than 70 member organisations from 37 European countries....
1998-2004. In 1995 he became a trustee of the Herpetological Conservation Trust
Herpetological Conservation Trust
The Herpetological Conservation Trust is a British wildlife charity for the conservation of herpetofauna: amphibians and reptiles. It was founded in 1989 by Vincent Weir and Ian Swingland of DICE and launched at the First World Congress of Herpetology in Canterbury that year...
. He served as chairman of the UK Committee of the World Conservation Union
World Conservation Union
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is an international organization dedicated to finding "pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges." The organization publishes the IUCN Red List, compiling information from a network of...
(1996–1999). From 1997 he sat on the board of the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency. He served as chairman of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee is the statutory adviser to the UK Government on national and international nature conservation. Its work contributes to maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving geological features and sustaining natural systems...
of the United Kingdom from 2004-2007. Darby was appointed OBE for services to nature conservation in 1996.
Other voluntary interests
Darby has served as a regional committee member of the National TrustNational Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
; a fellow (governor) of 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"....
(1979–1994); a county committee member of the Country Landowners Association. Since 1998 he has been a Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
councillor for Wychavon District Council in Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
.