John Hindley, 1st Viscount Hyndley
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John Scott Hindley, 1st Viscount Hyndley GBE
(24 October 1883 – 5 January 1963), known as Sir John Hindley, Bt, between 1927 and 1931 and as The Lord Hyndley between 1931 and 1948, was a British businessman. He was the first chairman of the National Coal Board
at its creation on 1 January 1947.
, Sussex
, and Caroline, daughter of John Scott. He was educated at Weymouth College
, Weymouth.
between 1931 and 1945 and He was managing director of Powell Duffryn Ltd, collieries, between 1931 and 1946. He became the first chairman of the National Coal Board
at its creation on 1 January 1947, a post he held until 1951. Despite the Attlee
government's pronouncement in 1947 that "Today the mines belong to the people", in reality the same people held influence over the operation of the mines. Hindley was chairman at the time of the explosion at Easington Colliery
on 29 May 1951. Facing relatives of miners waiting at the colliery gates, he announced:
Hindley was knighted in 1921, created a Baronet, of Meads in the County of Sussex, in 1927 and elevated to the peerage as Baron Hyndley, of Meads in the County of Sussex, in 1931. He was further honoured when he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
(GBE) in 1939, "for public services", and made Viscount Hyndley, of Meads in the County of Sussex, in 1947. Lord Hyndley was also master of the Clothworkers' Company in 1953. The Viscount Hyndley Trophy was a trophy awarded to the British National Coal Board boxing
champion.
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...
(24 October 1883 – 5 January 1963), known as Sir John Hindley, Bt, between 1927 and 1931 and as The Lord Hyndley between 1931 and 1948, was a British businessman. He was the first chairman of the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
at its creation on 1 January 1947.
Background
Hindley was the son of Reverend William Talbot Hindley, vicar of MeadsMeads
Meads is an area of the town of Eastbourne in the English county of East Sussex. It is situated at the westerly end of the town below the South Downs.- Boundaries :...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, and Caroline, daughter of John Scott. He was educated at Weymouth College
Weymouth College
Weymouth College is a Further Education college located in Weymouth, England.The college has over 7,000 students, studying on a wide range of practical and academic courses in many different subjects...
, Weymouth.
Business career
Hindley was a director of the Bank of EnglandBank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
between 1931 and 1945 and He was managing director of Powell Duffryn Ltd, collieries, between 1931 and 1946. He became the first chairman of the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
at its creation on 1 January 1947, a post he held until 1951. Despite the Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
government's pronouncement in 1947 that "Today the mines belong to the people", in reality the same people held influence over the operation of the mines. Hindley was chairman at the time of the explosion at Easington Colliery
Easington Colliery
Easington Colliery is an old coal mining town in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the north of Horden, and a short distance to the east of Easington Village. The town is known for a mining accident or disaster which occurred, on 29 May 1951 when an explosion in the mine resulted in the...
on 29 May 1951. Facing relatives of miners waiting at the colliery gates, he announced:
Though everything has been done and is still being done, there is now no hope of any of the men being alive. This is the worst pit disaster we have had in the History of the N.C.B.
Hindley was knighted in 1921, created a Baronet, of Meads in the County of Sussex, in 1927 and elevated to the peerage as Baron Hyndley, of Meads in the County of Sussex, in 1931. He was further honoured when he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
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...
(GBE) in 1939, "for public services", and made Viscount Hyndley, of Meads in the County of Sussex, in 1947. Lord Hyndley was also master of the Clothworkers' Company in 1953. The Viscount Hyndley Trophy was a trophy awarded to the British National Coal Board boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champion.