Claud William Wright
Encyclopedia
Claud William Wright aka Willy Wright, was a senior British
civil servant who was also was a notable expert in the disciplines of geology
, palaeontology, and archaeology
.
and Christ Church, Oxford
. At Oxford
, he was influenced by the geologist W. J. Arkell, an interest that became a serious hobby. His professional career was in the War Office
/Ministry of Defence
, where he reached the rank of Under Secretary
.
In 1971, he transferred to the Ministry of Education
and there was involved with the establishment of the first Ministry of Arts
. In these posts, he worked directly with Margaret Thatcher
and Lord Eccles
.
But it was his hobbies where he made the greatest mark. Whilst working as a civil servant he was between 1956–58 President of the Geologists' Association
but after he "retired" in 1976 he could devote his time to his interests. From 1977 to 1983, he was a Research Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford
.
He was married to Alison Redman with four daughters and a son.
(1969) and for his "hobby" work he won many prizes, medals and Fellowships (most notably an Hon. Associate of the British Museum
).
(25,500 pieces in all) and the Wright Library in the Oxford University Museum.
boats one of which is now in the National Maritime Museum
.
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...
civil servant who was also was a notable expert in the disciplines of geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, palaeontology, and archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
.
Life
He was educated at CharterhouseCharterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. At Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, he was influenced by the geologist W. J. Arkell, an interest that became a serious hobby. His professional career was in the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
/Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
, where he reached the rank of Under Secretary
Under Secretary
-In the United Kingdom:*Under-secretary*Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State*Under-Secretary of State for India*Under-Secretary of State for Scotland*Under-Secretary for Ireland*Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies*Under-Secretary of State for War...
.
In 1971, he transferred to the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (United Kingdom)
The administration of education policy in the United Kingdom began in the 19th century. Official mandation of education began with the Elementary Education Act 1870 for England and Wales, and the Education Act 1872 for Scotland...
and there was involved with the establishment of the first Ministry of Arts
Minister for the Arts
In the United Kingdom government, the Minister for the Arts is a ministerial post, usually a low to middle-ranking minister to the much senior Secretary of State, who runs the entire department and is ultimately responsibility for the department's brief....
. In these posts, he worked directly with Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
and Lord Eccles
David Eccles, 1st Viscount Eccles
David McAdam Eccles, 1st Baron Eccles and 1st Viscount Eccles, CH, KCVO, MP, PC was an English Conservative politician....
.
But it was his hobbies where he made the greatest mark. Whilst working as a civil servant he was between 1956–58 President of the Geologists' Association
Geologists' Association
The Geologists' Association is a British association concerned with the study of geology.The GA was founded in 1858. It is a charitable organization for all geologists and earth scientists, whether of professional or amateur status....
but after he "retired" in 1976 he could devote his time to his interests. From 1977 to 1983, he was a Research Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
.
He was married to Alison Redman with four daughters and a son.
Honours
For his work with the Civil Service work he was awarded the CBOrder 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...
(1969) and for his "hobby" work he won many prizes, medals and Fellowships (most notably an Hon. Associate of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
).
Publications
He has many articles on such diverse topics as ammonites, starfish, invertebrates, Cretaceous crabs and perhaps most notably on the Bridlington Giant Flying Lizard.His collection
His collection was split between the Natural History MuseumNatural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
(25,500 pieces in all) and the Wright Library in the Oxford University Museum.
Ferriby boats
His most notable find was made with his brother whilst on holiday while walking beside the River Humber. He had found three Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
boats one of which is now in the National Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,...
.
Sources
- Kennedy, W.J. (2006). C. W. Wright: a most professional amateur, Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, Volume 117, Issue 1, pages 9–40.
- Shovelton, Patrick (2010). Senior civil servant who was also a leading expert in geology, palaeontology and archaeology — Obituary, The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, Monday, 8 March 2010. - "WRIGHT, Claud William", Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010; online edition, Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, December 2010; online edition, March 2010. Accessed 1 September 2010.