Alexander Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh
Encyclopedia
Thomas Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh, KBE
, PC
(born 28 October 1950), is a British
UK Independence Party politician. For most of his life, he has preferred to be addressed by his middle name. In 2006, he sold the family seat Easton Neston
, at Towcester
, Northamptonshire
, the only surviving complete house by the English baroque
architect, Nicholas Hawksmoor
, together with the estate, the furnishings of the house and family portraits.
, of Hesketh, in the County Palatine of Lancaster and Baronet Hesketh, of Rufford, Lancashire
, on 6 October 1955, when his father, the 2nd Baron
, died at age 39. Alexander was then aged four.
He was educated at Ampleforth College
, Yorkshire, England. He went on to work for Dean Witter Inc
in San Francisco before returning to manage his family’s businesses.
and Mary Elizabeth Hallinan, on 21 May 1977 and has three children, Hon. Flora Mary Fermor-Hesketh (born 1981), Hon. Sophia Christian Fermor-Hesketh (born 1984) and the Hon. Frederick Hatton Fermor-Hesketh (born 13 October 1988). The children use the surname Hesketh day-to-day.
but took no active part in politics until he met Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
after the Irish Republican Army
’s bomb attack on her in Brighton
on 12 October 1984. Thatcher visited Easton Neston and in conversation, Alexander explained that he did not occupy his seat in the House of Lords. He later explained, "Mrs. Thatcher asked me if I served on a regular basis in the House, and when I told her no, she said, 'You must. It's your duty, and I expect you to be there.'" From that point Hesketh worked under Thatcher, whom he described as "the most outstanding person I ever worked with" and held the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment between 1989 and 1990 and was Minister of State in the Department of Trade and Industry between 1990 and 1991. On 22 May of that year, he became Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (Government Chief Whip
in the House of Lords
) under the next Prime Minister John Major
, a position he kept until the 16 September 1993. During his period in office as Chief Whip he helped secure the Local Government Finance Act 1992
, which introduced council tax
es, and the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993, which ratified the Maastricht Treaty
. In 2003, he became Treasurer of the Conservative Party, resigning in 2006 due to his own financial difficulties, and was formerly a board member of The Conservative Party Foundation. On 10 October 2011, Lord Hesketh defected to the UK Independence Party, in response to Prime Minister David Cameron
ruling out a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union
.
from 1973 to 1978. The team was famous for its flamboyant and patriotic approach to the sport and for refusing sponsorship. Between 1973 and 1975 the team had some success with the English driver James Hunt
, including winning the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix
. He later was president of the British Racing Drivers' Club
from 1993 to 2000.
Lord Hesketh formed Hesketh Motorcycles plc
. In 1982 a modern purpose built factory was set up to manufacture the Hesketh V1000
motorcycles in Daventry
. However, there were numerous problems. The bikes were heavy, made worse by a high riding style; and unreliable, with numerous manufacturing problems adding to an overheating rear cylinder due to lack of air flow. The resultant bad press combined on top of an under-developed bike, lack of cash and a collapsing market meant that after the production of 139 bikes, the company went into receivership. The Triumph Motorcycles co-operative looked at buying the rights to the machine, as they lacked a new model beyond the aged Triumph Bonneville
. A V1000 machine even appeared with a Triumph badge on its tank, but Triumph also lacked funding to buy and develop the machine. In 1983, Lord Hesketh formed a new company called Hesleydon Ltd to manufacture a revamped V1000 with a full fairing, called the Vampire. However, although the company had produced a motorcycle with export potential in mind, the Vampire retained too many of the V1000's faults and only 40 were produced before the company closed again in 1984.
In 1994 he helped set up British Mediterranean Airways, later known as BMED. He also became chairman of the new airline - a role in which he continued until early 2007, when BMED was purchased for £30 million by UK Airline BMI
. Now he serves as an "independent director" of Air Astana
, the national carrier of Kazakhstan
.
Hesketh joined the board of Babcock International Group
on 6 October 1993, becoming non-executive Deputy Chairman on 26 April 1996. He was forced to resign in November 2010 after a comment regarding the Royal Navy
's new s to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, in which he was reported as saying the project would make the country a "laughing stock".
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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...
, PC
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(born 28 October 1950), is 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...
UK Independence Party politician. For most of his life, he has preferred to be addressed by his middle name. In 2006, he sold the family seat Easton Neston
Easton Neston
Easton Neston is a country house near Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, and is part of the Easton Neston Parish. It was designed in the Baroque style by the architect Nicholas Hawksmoor. Easton Neston is thought to be the only mansion which was solely the work of Hawksmoor...
, at Towcester
Towcester
Towcester , the Roman town of Lactodorum, is a small town in south Northamptonshire, England.-Etymology:Towcester comes from the Old English Tófe-ceaster. Tófe refers to the River Tove; Bosworth and Toller compare it to the "Scandinavian proper names" Tófi and Tófa...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, the only surviving complete house by the English baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
architect, Nicholas Hawksmoor
Nicholas Hawksmoor
Nicholas Hawksmoor was a British architect born in Nottinghamshire, probably in East Drayton.-Life:Hawksmoor was born in Nottinghamshire in 1661, into a yeoman farming family, almost certainly in East Drayton, Nottinghamshire. On his death he was to leave property at nearby Ragnall, Dunham and a...
, together with the estate, the furnishings of the house and family portraits.
Early life
Alexander succeeded to the titles of 3rd Baron HeskethBaron Hesketh
Baron Hesketh, of Hesketh in the County Palatine of Lancaster, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1935 for Sir Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 8th Baronet, who had previously briefly represented Enfield in the House of Commons as a Conservative. the titles are held by his...
, of Hesketh, in the County Palatine of Lancaster and Baronet Hesketh, of Rufford, Lancashire
Rufford, Lancashire
-Population :-Economy:The village is largely rural with little or no industry. The farmland is grade one agricultural land. In the early 20th century the village was described as "one of the prettiest in South Lancashire" and was a destination for day trips from neighbouring towns...
, on 6 October 1955, when his father, the 2nd Baron
Frederick Fermor-Hesketh, 2nd Baron Hesketh
Frederick Fermor-Hesketh, 2nd Baron Hesketh was a British peer and soldier.-Early life:Hesketh was the son of Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 1st Baron Hesketh, and Florence Louise Breckinridge, of Kentucky, daughter of John Witherspoon Breckinridge, and granddaughter of General John C Breckinridge,...
, died at age 39. Alexander was then aged four.
He was educated at Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, England, is the largest Roman Catholic co-educational boarding independent school in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1802, as a boys' school, and is run by the Benedictine monks and lay staff of Ampleforth Abbey...
, Yorkshire, England. He went on to work for Dean Witter Inc
Dean Witter Reynolds
Dean Witter Reynolds was an American stock brokerage and securities firm catering to retail clients. Prior to its acquisition, it was among the largest retail firms in the securities industry with over 9,000 account executives and was among the largest members of the New York Stock Exchange...
in San Francisco before returning to manage his family’s businesses.
Family
He married Hon. Claire Georgina Watson, daughter of Joseph Rupert Eric Robert Watson, 3rd Baron MantonRupert Watson, 3rd Baron Manton
Joseph Rupert Eric Robert Watson, 3rd Baron Manton .Rupert Watson was born on January 22, 1924, the son of George Miles Watson, 2nd Baron Manton , and Alethea Langdale, 2nd. da. of Lt-Col. Philip Joseph Langdale OBE JP DL of Houghton Hall, Sancton, Yorks. He inherited the title 3rd Baron Manton on...
and Mary Elizabeth Hallinan, on 21 May 1977 and has three children, Hon. Flora Mary Fermor-Hesketh (born 1981), Hon. Sophia Christian Fermor-Hesketh (born 1984) and the Hon. Frederick Hatton Fermor-Hesketh (born 13 October 1988). The children use the surname Hesketh day-to-day.
Political career
Alexander automatically became a member of the House of LordsHouse 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....
but took no active part in politics until he met Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
after the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
’s bomb attack on her in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
on 12 October 1984. Thatcher visited Easton Neston and in conversation, Alexander explained that he did not occupy his seat in the House of Lords. He later explained, "Mrs. Thatcher asked me if I served on a regular basis in the House, and when I told her no, she said, 'You must. It's your duty, and I expect you to be there.'" From that point Hesketh worked under Thatcher, whom he described as "the most outstanding person I ever worked with" and held the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment between 1989 and 1990 and was Minister of State in the Department of Trade and Industry between 1990 and 1991. On 22 May of that year, he became Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (Government Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
in 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....
) under the next Prime Minister John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
, a position he kept until the 16 September 1993. During his period in office as Chief Whip he helped secure the Local Government Finance Act 1992
Local Government Finance Act 1992
The Local Government Finance Act 1992 includes obligations of the occupants or the owners of properties in the United Kingdom to pay council tax.- External links :*...
, which introduced council tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
es, and the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993, which ratified the Maastricht Treaty
Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9–10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted the treaty...
. In 2003, he became Treasurer of the Conservative Party, resigning in 2006 due to his own financial difficulties, and was formerly a board member of The Conservative Party Foundation. On 10 October 2011, Lord Hesketh defected to the UK Independence Party, in response to Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
ruling out a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Business
Known for his love of motor racing, he founded Hesketh Racing in 1972, best known for competing in Formula OneFormula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
from 1973 to 1978. The team was famous for its flamboyant and patriotic approach to the sport and for refusing sponsorship. Between 1973 and 1975 the team had some success with the English driver James Hunt
James Hunt
James Simon Wallis Hunt was a British racing driver from England who won the Formula One World Championship in . Hunt's often action packed exploits on track earned him the nickname "Hunt the Shunt." After retiring from driving, Hunt became a media commentator and businessman...
, including winning the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix
Dutch Grand Prix
The Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula One automobile race held at Circuit Zandvoort, from 1948 to 1985. It was a part of the World Championship from 1952, and designated the European Grand Prix two times, 1962 and 1976, when this title was an honorary designation given each year to one grand prix...
. He later was president of the British Racing Drivers' Club
British Racing Drivers' Club
The British Racing Drivers' Club is a membership body which represents the interests of professional racing drivers from the United Kingdom.-Early days:...
from 1993 to 2000.
Lord Hesketh formed Hesketh Motorcycles plc
Hesketh Motorcycles
Hesketh Motorcycles is a British motorcycle manufacturer, based in Daventry and Easton Neston.The company was formed by Alexander, 3rd Lord Hesketh, in 1980, then after his two ventures went bust from 1984 onwards, the marque has been maintained and improved by Broom Engineering, now based at...
. In 1982 a modern purpose built factory was set up to manufacture the Hesketh V1000
Hesketh V1000
The Hesketh V1000 is a British motorcycle originally designed and built by Hesketh Motorcycles in Daventry, Northamptonshire. Lord Alexander Hesketh had been planning the production of a new British motorcycle since 1974 and began talks with engine specialists Westlake in 1977 about the development...
motorcycles in Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
. However, there were numerous problems. The bikes were heavy, made worse by a high riding style; and unreliable, with numerous manufacturing problems adding to an overheating rear cylinder due to lack of air flow. The resultant bad press combined on top of an under-developed bike, lack of cash and a collapsing market meant that after the production of 139 bikes, the company went into receivership. The Triumph Motorcycles co-operative looked at buying the rights to the machine, as they lacked a new model beyond the aged Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Bonneville
The Bonneville is a range of British motorcycles, made in three different production runs from 1959 to 1983, and 1985 to 1988, by the now-defunct Triumph Engineering in Meriden; and since 2001, by Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley. It is named after the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, where Triumph and...
. A V1000 machine even appeared with a Triumph badge on its tank, but Triumph also lacked funding to buy and develop the machine. In 1983, Lord Hesketh formed a new company called Hesleydon Ltd to manufacture a revamped V1000 with a full fairing, called the Vampire. However, although the company had produced a motorcycle with export potential in mind, the Vampire retained too many of the V1000's faults and only 40 were produced before the company closed again in 1984.
In 1994 he helped set up British Mediterranean Airways, later known as BMED. He also became chairman of the new airline - a role in which he continued until early 2007, when BMED was purchased for £30 million by UK Airline BMI
Bmi (airline)
British Midland Airways Limited , is an airline based at Donington Hall in Castle Donington in the United Kingdom, close to East Midlands Airport, and a fully owned subsidiary of Lufthansa...
. Now he serves as an "independent director" of Air Astana
Air Astana
Air Astana is the flag carrier and the national airline of Kazakhstan with its head office in Almaty. It is the national carrier of Kazakhstan and operates scheduled domestic and international services. Its main bases are Astana International Airport and Almaty International Airport...
, the national carrier of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
.
Hesketh joined the board of Babcock International Group
Babcock International Group
Babcock International Group plc is a British-based support services company specialising in managing complex assets and infrastructure in safety-critical and mission-critical environments. Although the company has civil contracts, its main business is with public bodies, particularly the UK...
on 6 October 1993, becoming non-executive Deputy Chairman on 26 April 1996. He was forced to resign in November 2010 after a comment regarding the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's new s to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, in which he was reported as saying the project would make the country a "laughing stock".
Honours
In 1997, he was invested as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).External links
Succession
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