John Winnifrith
Encyclopedia
Sir Alfred John Digby Winnifrith KCB
(16 October 1908- 1 January 1994) was a senior British Civil Servant at the Ministry of Agriculture.
Winnifrith was born at Ightham
, Kent
, the son of Rev Bertram Winnifrith. He was educated at Westminster School
and Christ Church College, Oxford. He entered the Board of Trade
in 1932 and went to the Treasury
in 1934. During World War II
he was seconded to be Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet Office and Civil Service Combined Operation HQ from 1942 to 1944. He was awarded CB
in 1950. In 1957 he became Permanent Secretary
at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
., and was knighted KCB in 1959.
On retirement in 1967 Winnifrith was Trustee of the British Museum (Natural History)
from 1967 to 1972, Director General of the National Trust
from 1968 to 1970, a member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
1970 to 1973, a member of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
from 1970 to 1973, and the of the Hops Marketing Board from 1970 to 1978.
He married Lesbia, eldest daughter of Sir Arthur Cochrane
and had three children. His sister was the actress Anna Lee
. His son Dr Tom Winnifrith lectured at Warwick University and produced several publications on Greece, the Balkans and the Bronte sisters.
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...
(16 October 1908- 1 January 1994) was a senior British Civil Servant at the Ministry of Agriculture.
Winnifrith was born at Ightham
Ightham
Ightham is a village in Kent, England, located approximately four miles east of Sevenoaks and six miles north of Tonbridge. The parish includes the hamlet of Ivy Hatch....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, the son of Rev Bertram Winnifrith. He 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...
and Christ Church College, Oxford. He entered the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
in 1932 and went to the Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
in 1934. 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 was seconded to be Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet Office and Civil Service Combined Operation HQ from 1942 to 1944. He was awarded CB
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...
in 1950. In 1957 he became Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
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...
., and was knighted KCB in 1959.
On retirement in 1967 Winnifrith was Trustee of the British Museum (Natural History)
Natural 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...
from 1967 to 1972, Director General of the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
from 1968 to 1970, a member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution in the United Kingdom was created under Royal Warrant in 1970 to advise the Queen, Government, Parliament and the public on environmental issues...
1970 to 1973, a member of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
from 1970 to 1973, and the of the Hops Marketing Board from 1970 to 1978.
He married Lesbia, eldest daughter of Sir Arthur Cochrane
Arthur Cochrane
Sir Arthur William Steuart Cochrane, KCVO was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.-Biography:...
and had three children. His sister was the actress Anna Lee
Anna Lee
Anna Lee, MBE was an English actress.-Career:Lee studied at the Royal Albert Hall, then debuted with a bit part in the film His Lordship...
. His son Dr Tom Winnifrith lectured at Warwick University and produced several publications on Greece, the Balkans and the Bronte sisters.