Geoffrey Waldegrave, 12th Earl Waldegrave
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Noel Waldegrave, 12th Earl Waldegrave KG
GCVO
TD
(21 November 1905–23 May 1995), known as Viscount Chewton from 1933 to 1936, was a British peer and agriculturist.
Waldegrave was the only son of the 11th Earl Waldegrave
and was educated at Winchester
and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge
in 1928. In 1936, he succeeded to his father's titles and became a member of Somerset County Council
in 1937. During World War II
, he served with the Royal Artillery
(Territorial Army) and was afterwards awarded the Legion of Merit
and the Territorial Decoration
.
Lord Waldegrave's career thereafter was as: chairman of the Agricultural Executive Council 1948–51; a member of the Prince's Council of the Duchy of Cornwall
1951–58; and 1965–76; a Liaison Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
to Somerset, Wiltshire
and Gloucestershire
1952–57; a Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1958–62; chairman of the Forestry Commission
1963–65; a member of the BBC
General Advisory Council 1963–66; a director of Lloyds Bank
1964–76; Lord Warden of the Stannaries
1965–76; chairman of the Advisory Committee on Meat Research 1969–73 and President of Somerset Trust Nature Conservation 1964–80.
In 1976, he was made an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Bristol
and was awarded the Garter
and the GCVO
in 1971 and 1976, respectively. On 22 October 1930, he had married Mary Hermione Grenfell (a grandniece of the 1st Baron Grenfell
) and they had seven children:
Lord Waldegrave died in 1995, aged 89 and was succeeded by his eldest son.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(21 November 1905–23 May 1995), known as Viscount Chewton from 1933 to 1936, was a British peer and agriculturist.
Waldegrave was the only son of the 11th Earl Waldegrave
Henry Waldegrave, 11th Earl Waldegrave
Henry Noel Waldegrave, 11th Earl Waldegrave was a British peer and minister of religion.Waldegrave was born in 1854, the posthumous son of William Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton and his wife Frances. He was educated at Eton and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1878...
and was educated at Winchester
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1928. In 1936, he succeeded to his father's titles and became a member of Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council is the county council of Somerset in the South West of England, an elected local government authority responsible for the most significant local government services in most of the county.-Area covered:...
in 1937. 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...
, he served with 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:...
(Territorial Army) and was afterwards awarded the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
and the Territorial Decoration
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
.
Lord Waldegrave's career thereafter was as: chairman of the Agricultural Executive Council 1948–51; a member of the Prince's Council of the Duchy of Cornwall
Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the...
1951–58; and 1965–76; a Liaison Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
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...
to Somerset, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
and Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
1952–57; a Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1958–62; chairman of the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
1963–65; a member of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
General Advisory Council 1963–66; a director of Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank Plc was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1765 until its merger into Lloyds TSB in 1995; it remains a registered company but is currently dormant. It expanded during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and took over a number of smaller banking companies...
1964–76; Lord Warden of the Stannaries
Lord Warden of the Stannaries
The Lord Warden of the Stannaries used to exercise judicial and military functions in Cornwall, United Kingdom, and is still the official who, upon the commission of the monarch or Duke of Cornwall for the time being, has the function of calling a Stannary Parliament of tinners...
1965–76; chairman of the Advisory Committee on Meat Research 1969–73 and President of Somerset Trust Nature Conservation 1964–80.
In 1976, he was made an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
and was awarded the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
and the GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1971 and 1976, respectively. On 22 October 1930, he had married Mary Hermione Grenfell (a grandniece of the 1st Baron Grenfell
Francis Grenfell, 1st Baron Grenfell
Field Marshal Francis Wallace Grenfell, 1st Baron Grenfell, GCB, GCMG, PC was a British Army officer.-Military career:Francis Wallace Grenfell was descended from Pascoe Grenfell...
) and they had seven children:
- Lady Sarah Wright (b. 1931)
- Lady Jane Howard (b. 1934)
- Elizabeth Dewar, Baroness Forteviot (1936–2003)
- Lady Anne Boles (b. 1937)
- Susan Hussey, Baroness Hussey of North BradleySusan Hussey, Baroness Hussey of North BradleySusan Hussey, Baroness Hussey of North Bradley, DCVO is a Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II.She was born Lady Susan Katherine Waldegrave, the fifth and youngest daughter of the 12th Earl Waldegrave...
(b. 1939) - James Waldegrave, 13th Earl WaldegraveJames Waldegrave, 13th Earl WaldegraveJames "Jamie" Sherbrooke Waldegrave, 13th Earl Waldegrave is a British peer and businessman.Waldegrave is the son of the 12th Earl Waldegrave and was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1986, he married Mary Furness , a daughter of Sir Robert Furness...
(b. 1940) - William Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North HillWilliam Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North HillWilliam Arthur Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill, PC , is an English Conservative politician who served in the Cabinet from 1990 until 1997 and is a Life Member of the Tory Reform Group. He is now a life peer. Lord Waldegrave is also the Chairman of the Rhodes Trust and the Chairman of...
(b. 1946)
Lord Waldegrave died in 1995, aged 89 and was succeeded by his eldest son.