John Boreham
Encyclopedia
Sir John Boreham, KCB
(1925 – 8 June 1994) was a government statistician and the director of what was the Central Statistical Office
of the United Kingdom
from 1978 to 1985. He was knighted in 1980.
and Trinity College, Oxford
, where he studied for a philosophy, politics and economics degree with statistics as an optional subject.
. He moved to the Central Statistical Office in 1958 and returned to the General Register Office on promotion to chief statistician in 1963. Between 1967 and 1971, he was director of economics and statistics at the Ministry of Technology. In 1972, he moved from the Ministry of Technology to the Central Statistical Office as an assistant director. A year later, he was promoted to deputy director. He became director of the Central Statistical Office and head of the Government Statistical Service on 1 August 1978.
. As a result of this review, the budget of the Central Statistical Office was cut by 33% and manpower by 25%.
By streamlining and compressing the work of the office, Boreham implemented most of the recommendations of the Rayner Review by mid-1981 while still providing the same service to government. After 35 years in the Government Statistical Service, he retired on 31 July 1985.
and the other was hosted in turn by the member countries. The United Kingdom
hosted the Conference at Leeds Castle
in spring 1983.
Boreham was also elected to serve as the chairman of the Conference of European Statisticians, one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations, in 1984 and 1985.
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...
(1925 – 8 June 1994) was a government statistician and the director of what was the Central Statistical Office
Central Statistical Office, UK
The Central Statistical Office was a British government department charged with the collection and publication of economic statistics for the United Kingdom...
of the United Kingdom
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...
from 1978 to 1985. He was knighted in 1980.
Background
John Boreham was educated at Marlborough CollegeMarlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
, where he studied for a philosophy, politics and economics degree with statistics as an optional subject.
Career
After completing his degree, Sir John Boreham had a varied and successful career in the Government Statistical Service (GSS). He joined the Agriculture Economic Research Institute in Oxford and shortly afterward in 1950, joined the statistics division of the Ministry of Food as a higher executive officer. In 1951, he joined the Ministry of Agriculture as an assistant statistician and then in 1955, he moved to the General Register OfficeGeneral Register Office
The General Register Office for England and Wales is the section of the UK Identity and Passport Service responsible for the civil registration of births , adoptions, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths in England and Wales and for those same events outwith the UK if they involve a UK citizen...
. He moved to the Central Statistical Office in 1958 and returned to the General Register Office on promotion to chief statistician in 1963. Between 1967 and 1971, he was director of economics and statistics at the Ministry of Technology. In 1972, he moved from the Ministry of Technology to the Central Statistical Office as an assistant director. A year later, he was promoted to deputy director. He became director of the Central Statistical Office and head of the Government Statistical Service on 1 August 1978.
Director of the Central Statistical Office
A key event during the tenure of Sir John Boreham as director of theCentral Statistical Office was the Rayner Review of theCentral Statistical Office and the Government Statistical Service, which was an early part of a policy of a newly elected government to reduce the size of the Civil ServiceCivil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
. As a result of this review, the budget of the Central Statistical Office was cut by 33% and manpower by 25%.
By streamlining and compressing the work of the office, Boreham implemented most of the recommendations of the Rayner Review by mid-1981 while still providing the same service to government. After 35 years in the Government Statistical Service, he retired on 31 July 1985.
International roles
One of the duties of the director of the Central Statistical Office was to attend the twice-yearly Conference of Directors General of the National Statistical Offices of the member countries of the European Community. One meeting each year was held in LuxembourgLuxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
and the other was hosted in turn by the member countries. The United Kingdom
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...
hosted the Conference at Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle, southeast of Maidstone, Kent, England, dates back to 1119, though a Saxon fort stood on the same site from the 9th century. The castle is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds....
in spring 1983.
Boreham was also elected to serve as the chairman of the Conference of European Statisticians, one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations, in 1984 and 1985.