Frank Byers
Encyclopedia
Charles Frank Byers, Baron Byers, OBE
, PC
, DL (24 July 1915 – 6 February 1984) was a British
Liberal Party
politician.
Byers was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, moved with the family to Potters Bar and was educated at Westminster School
, later Christ Church, Oxford
where he won a Blue for athletics. At Oxford he was president of the Union of Liberal Students
and president of the University Liberal Club. His treasurer was Harold Wilson
, later Labour Party
prime minister
. He was also an Exchange Scholar at Milton Academy
, Massachusetts
. While at the University of Oxford, where he gained his Degree in PPE and met Joan Oliver, whom he married in 1939. They had a son and three daughters. Joan Oliver was a committed Liberal in her own right and was a constant help to her husband during his political career. Byers joined Grays Inn after university but broke off his legal education to enlist. During World War II
, Byers served in the Royal Artillery
, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and for a time serving on Field Marshal Montgomery's staff. He was mentioned in dispatches
three times, was created a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, was awarded the Croix de Guerre
and in 1944 was made an OBE.
In the 1945 general election
, Byers gained the formerly Conservative
seat of North Dorset, although the absence of a Labour candidate was a key factor in this success. In 1946, Byers was appointed Liberal Chief Whip and gained a reputation for hard work and effective organisation both in Parliament and at Liberal Party headquarters. However he was unable to hold North Dorset
in 1950, losing by just 97 votes to the Conservative following Labour's decision to stand a candidate. He unsuccessfully tried to re-enter the House of Commons in 1960 at the Bolton East
by-election.
In 1964, Byers was made a life peer
and three years later he became leader of the Liberal peers. He was created a Privy Councillor in 1972.
Outside Parliament, Byers was a businessman, a Director of Rio Tinto Zinc from 1962–73 and a broadcaster. He died of a heart attack on 6 February 1984. A memorial service was held for Lord Byers in Westminster Abbey
on 5 April 1984.
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...
, DL (24 July 1915 – 6 February 1984) was 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...
Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician.
Byers was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, moved with the family to Potters Bar and was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, later 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...
where he won a Blue for athletics. At Oxford he was president of the Union of Liberal Students
Union of Liberal Students
The Union of Liberal Students was the English and Welsh student wing of the United Kingdom's Liberal Party. The Scottish Liberal Party had a separate organisation, Scottish Liberal Students...
and president of the University Liberal Club. His treasurer was Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
, later Labour Party
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...
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...
. He was also an Exchange Scholar at Milton Academy
Milton Academy
Milton Academy is a coeducational, independent preparatory, boarding and day school in Milton, Massachusetts consisting of a grade 9–12 Upper School and a grade K–8 Lower School. Boarding is offered starting in 9th grade...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. While at the University of Oxford, where he gained his Degree in PPE and met Joan Oliver, whom he married in 1939. They had a son and three daughters. Joan Oliver was a committed Liberal in her own right and was a constant help to her husband during his political career. Byers joined Grays Inn after university but broke off his legal education to enlist. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Byers served in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and for a time serving on Field Marshal Montgomery's staff. He was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
three times, was created a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, was awarded the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
and in 1944 was made an OBE.
In the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
, Byers gained the formerly Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
seat of North Dorset, although the absence of a Labour candidate was a key factor in this success. In 1946, Byers was appointed Liberal Chief Whip and gained a reputation for hard work and effective organisation both in Parliament and at Liberal Party headquarters. However he was unable to hold North Dorset
North Dorset
North Dorset is a local government district in Dorset, England. It is largely rural, but includes the towns of Blandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Stalbridge and Sturminster Newton. Much of North Dorset is in the River Stour valley and is called the Blackmore Vale...
in 1950, losing by just 97 votes to the Conservative following Labour's decision to stand a candidate. He unsuccessfully tried to re-enter the House of Commons in 1960 at the Bolton East
Bolton East (UK Parliament constituency)
Bolton East was a borough constituency in the town of Bolton in Greater Manchester . It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
by-election.
In 1964, Byers 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...
and three years later he became leader of the Liberal peers. He was created a Privy Councillor in 1972.
Outside Parliament, Byers was a businessman, a Director of Rio Tinto Zinc from 1962–73 and a broadcaster. He died of a heart attack on 6 February 1984. A memorial service was held for Lord Byers in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
on 5 April 1984.
Further reading
- Entry by Roy Douglas in Dictionary of Liberal Biography, Brack et al. (eds.), Politico's (1998)