Alexander Bernstein, Baron Bernstein of Craigweil
Encyclopedia
Alexander Bernstein, Baron Bernstein of Craigweil (15 March 1936 – 13 April 2010) was a British television executive and a Labour
member of the House of Lords
.
Educated at Stowe School
and St John's College, Cambridge
, Bernstein joined the Granada Group, the leisure and television company founded by his uncle Sidney
and his father Cecil Bernstein. He was a director of the company, managing director of Granada Television
in the 1970s, and Chairman of Granada Group 1979-96.
Bernstein was a major contributor to the Labour Leader's Office Fund
run by Lord Levy to finance Tony Blair's private office. He was made a life peer
as Baron Bernstein of Craigweil, of Craigweil in the County of West Sussex
in 2000. He was also active in the arts, serving on several governing bodies and trusts.
He married Vanessa Anne Mills in 1962; they had a son and a daughter, and divorced in 1993. In 1995, he married Angela Mary Serota, the former wife of Sir Nicholas Serota
.
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 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....
.
Educated at Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
and St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, Bernstein joined the Granada Group, the leisure and television company founded by his uncle Sidney
Sidney Bernstein, Baron Bernstein
Sidney Lewis Bernstein, Baron Bernstein was a British media baron who was known as the founding chairman of the London-based Granada Group and the founder of the Manchester-based Granada Television in 1954....
and his father Cecil Bernstein. He was a director of the company, managing director of Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
in the 1970s, and Chairman of Granada Group 1979-96.
Bernstein was a major contributor to the Labour Leader's Office Fund
Labour Leader's Office Fund
The Labour Leader's Office Fund was a blind trust established and run by Lord Levy to finance Tony Blair's work in opposition before the 1997 General Election...
run by Lord Levy to finance Tony Blair's private office. He was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Bernstein of Craigweil, of Craigweil in the County of West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
in 2000. He was also active in the arts, serving on several governing bodies and trusts.
He married Vanessa Anne Mills in 1962; they had a son and a daughter, and divorced in 1993. In 1995, he married Angela Mary Serota, the former wife of Sir Nicholas Serota
Nicholas Serota
Sir Nicholas Andrew Serota is a British art curator. Serota was director of the Whitechapel Gallery, London, and The Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, before becoming director of the Tate, the United Kingdom's national gallery of modern and British art in 1988. He was awarded a knighthood in 1999. He...
.