Basil Engholm
Encyclopedia
Sir Basil Charles Engholm KCB
(2 August 1912 – 12 June 1990) was a senior British Civil Servant at the Ministry of Agriculture
. On retirement he was heavily involved in raising money for the arts and was Chairman of the British Film Institute
.
Engholm was born in Melbourne
Australia, the only son of Charles Engholm and his wife Ethel Nora Bowie. His father was of Swedish descent, and worked for the Anglo-American Metal Company in various parts of the world. Engholm returned to England and then went out to Chile
at the age of 8, where he learnt to ride on his father’s ranch. He was educated at Tonbridge School
, at the Sorbonne
in Paris and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
, where he took a Law Tripos and gained a double first. He became a member of Grays Inn, and followed his father into the Anglo-American Metal Company in New York from 1933 to 1934. He did not like working for the company, and entered the British Civil Service in 1935. He was posted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
.
He rose in the Ministry of Agriculture where he stayed throughout his career until he reached the top job. He became Under Secretary 1954 and Deputy Secretary in 1964 when he was made CB
. During his time at the Ministry he acquired a reputation as the right man to deal with difficult problems. He picked up the pieces in the Crichel Down affair
and was heavily involved in the Icelandic Cod War
. His diplomacy in these and other matters led to his appointment as Permanent Secretary
in 1968 in succession to Sir John Winnifrith
, and he was knighted (KCB) that year. While still a civil servant he and his wife found time to develop a great enthusiasm for the arts, including painting, theatre, ballet, film and opera.
Engholm retired from the Civil Service in 1973 and became a company Director for Comfin Ltd until 1985. He had free time on his hands and put his energy into raising money for the arts. He was Chairman of British Film Institute
from 1978 to 1981 and quickly recognised the need for commercial sponsorship of the arts. During his time as Chairman, the idea of the Museum of the Moving Image
was generated. His greatest love was Saddlers Wells Theatre. He was a Director of Saddlers Wells Theatre Trust from 1975 and of the New Saddlers Wells Opera from 1987 to 1989. He was also a director of the Trustee Theatre Trust from 1977 to 1984.
In 1936, Engholm married Nancy Hewitt, daughter of Clifford Hewitt of Rye and they had a daughter born in 1943. He was described in his obituary as “tall, slightly stooping in his later years and with an infinitely courteous manner could well have been taken for an ex-diplomat. His manner made him an ideal host, a gift he used to the utmost when he was trying to attract sponsorship money for the arts.“
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...
(2 August 1912 – 12 June 1990) was a senior British Civil Servant at the Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture
An agriculture ministry or department of agriculture is a ministry or other government agency charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister for agriculture....
. On retirement he was heavily involved in raising money for the arts and was Chairman of the British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
.
Engholm was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
Australia, the only son of Charles Engholm and his wife Ethel Nora Bowie. His father was of Swedish descent, and worked for the Anglo-American Metal Company in various parts of the world. Engholm returned to England and then went out to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
at the age of 8, where he learnt to ride on his father’s ranch. He was educated at Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
, at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
, where he took a Law Tripos and gained a double first. He became a member of Grays Inn, and followed his father into the Anglo-American Metal Company in New York from 1933 to 1934. He did not like working for the company, and entered the British Civil Service in 1935. He was posted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a United Kingdom government department created by the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 and at that time called the Board of Agriculture, and then from 1903 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and from 1919 the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries...
.
He rose in the Ministry of Agriculture where he stayed throughout his career until he reached the top job. He became Under Secretary 1954 and Deputy Secretary in 1964 when he was made CB
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...
. During his time at the Ministry he acquired a reputation as the right man to deal with difficult problems. He picked up the pieces in the Crichel Down affair
Crichel Down affair
The Crichel Down affair was a British political scandal of 1954, with a subsequent effect and notoriety. The Crichel Down Rules are guidelines applying to compulsory purchase drawn up in the light of the affair.-The Crichel Down land:...
and was heavily involved in the Icelandic Cod War
Cod War
The Cod Wars, also called the Icelandic Cod Wars , were a series of confrontations in the 1950s and 1970s between the United Kingdom and Iceland regarding fishing rights in the North Atlantic....
. His diplomacy in these and other matters led to his appointment as Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
in 1968 in succession to Sir John Winnifrith
John Winnifrith
Sir Alfred John Digby Winnifrith KCB was a senior British Civil Servant at the Ministry of Agriculture.Winnifrith was born at Ightham, Kent, the son of Rev Bertram Winnifrith. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church College, Oxford. He entered the Board of Trade in 1932 and went to...
, and he was knighted (KCB) that year. While still a civil servant he and his wife found time to develop a great enthusiasm for the arts, including painting, theatre, ballet, film and opera.
Engholm retired from the Civil Service in 1973 and became a company Director for Comfin Ltd until 1985. He had free time on his hands and put his energy into raising money for the arts. He was Chairman of British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
from 1978 to 1981 and quickly recognised the need for commercial sponsorship of the arts. During his time as Chairman, the idea of the Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image
The Museum of the Moving Image was a museum of the history of technology and media, including cinema and its forerunners. MOMI was opened on 15 September 1988 by Prince Charles and became an instant international hit and winning 18 awards...
was generated. His greatest love was Saddlers Wells Theatre. He was a Director of Saddlers Wells Theatre Trust from 1975 and of the New Saddlers Wells Opera from 1987 to 1989. He was also a director of the Trustee Theatre Trust from 1977 to 1984.
In 1936, Engholm married Nancy Hewitt, daughter of Clifford Hewitt of Rye and they had a daughter born in 1943. He was described in his obituary as “tall, slightly stooping in his later years and with an infinitely courteous manner could well have been taken for an ex-diplomat. His manner made him an ideal host, a gift he used to the utmost when he was trying to attract sponsorship money for the arts.“