Joseph Stone, Baron Stone
Encyclopedia
Dr Sir Joseph Ellis Stone, Baron Stone (27 May 1903 – 17 June 1986) was an officer in the British Army
, and a doctor, most notably to Harold Wilson
. He was given the name of Joseph Ellis Silverstone. He was knighted, and then created a life peer
in the 1976 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
with the title Baron Stone, of Hendon in Greater London
, on 24 June 1976.
Joe Stone was a General Practitioner, originally from Llanelli
in Wales
, who after qualifying in Cardiff
worked as a GP in and around Hendon
. He took on a number of patients from Hampstead Garden Suburb
, at the time an area popular with left wing politicians, one of whom, Harold Wilson
went on to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
.
During World War II
, as a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps
, Joe was in the British Army force that liberated Belsen Concentration Camp. He became heavily involved as a doctor in the initial army reaction to the situation they found in Belsen, and to the rehabilitation of the prisoners there. He was possibly the first British Jewish doctor to enter Belsen after its liberation. His brother-in-law, Sidney Bernstein was then commissioned by the British Government to make a documentary about the liberation of Belsen and the Concentration Camps, which may have been influenced by the letters Joe sent home to his wife, Beryl.
As a peacetime GP, his patients included Lord Longford and Harold Wilson
, and when Wilson became Prime Minister
, Stone went on to become the personal physician to the Prime Minister. During this period in his career he counted a large number of Wilson's Cabinet
as his patients. Stone travelled widely with the Prime Minister, and became a very close confidant of his.
Joe Stone remained a family GP in Hendon until a few years before his death, and during his time as Wilson's doctor. During his life he was regarded as an excellent doctor, and was seen as very loyal to Wilson.
He died in London, having continued to practice medicine until a few years before his death. He was married to Beryl, and had two children, Richard and Adrienne. His brother was Arnold Silverstone
, later Lord Ashdown.
In his memory the Lord Stone Trust was founded. This was merged with the Lord Ashdown Charitable Settlement to form the Stone Ashdown Trust.
In 2002, Harold Wilson's former press secretary Joe Haines alleged that Stone had plotted to murder Marcia Falkender in 1975, to prevent her from revealing that she and Wilson had had an affair; Falkender has rejected Haines's allegations as "outrageous" . Bernard Donoughue claimed in a 2011 documentary to have also heard Stone say, "it was in the national interest she be put down." However, there is no evidence behind this story beyond the word of Haines and Donoghue, and it was only raised in their books many years after Lord Stone's death. Joe Stone remained private doctor to the Wilsons, and Marcia Falkender until his death.
Controversy and unclarity about events during this period were also approached by the BBC 4 drama 'The Lavendar List.' Marcia Falkender sued the BBC for libel, and won £75,000 and an agreement by the BBC never to show the documentary drama again. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6525657.stm
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, and a doctor, most notably to 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...
. He was given the name of Joseph Ellis Silverstone. He was knighted, and then created 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...
in the 1976 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
1976 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
The 1976 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours were announced on 27 May 1976 to mark the resignation of Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The list of honours became known satirically as the "Lavender List".-Controversy:...
with the title Baron Stone, of Hendon in Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, on 24 June 1976.
Joe Stone was a General Practitioner, originally from Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, who after qualifying in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
worked as a GP in and around Hendon
Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
. He took on a number of patients from Hampstead Garden Suburb
Hampstead Garden Suburb
-Notable Residents :*Theo Adams*Martin Bell*Sir Victor Blank*Katie Boyle*Constantine, the last King of Greece*Greg Davies*Richard & Judy Finnigan*David Matthews*Michael Ridpath*Claudia Roden*Jonathan Ross*Sir Donald Sinden*Marc Sinden...
, at the time an area popular with left wing politicians, one of whom, 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...
went on to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
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...
.
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...
, as a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
, Joe was in the British Army force that liberated Belsen Concentration Camp. He became heavily involved as a doctor in the initial army reaction to the situation they found in Belsen, and to the rehabilitation of the prisoners there. He was possibly the first British Jewish doctor to enter Belsen after its liberation. His brother-in-law, Sidney Bernstein was then commissioned by the British Government to make a documentary about the liberation of Belsen and the Concentration Camps, which may have been influenced by the letters Joe sent home to his wife, Beryl.
As a peacetime GP, his patients included Lord Longford and 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...
, and when Wilson became Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Stone went on to become the personal physician to the Prime Minister. During this period in his career he counted a large number of Wilson's Cabinet
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, composed of the Prime Minister and some 22 Cabinet Ministers, the most senior of the government ministers....
as his patients. Stone travelled widely with the Prime Minister, and became a very close confidant of his.
Joe Stone remained a family GP in Hendon until a few years before his death, and during his time as Wilson's doctor. During his life he was regarded as an excellent doctor, and was seen as very loyal to Wilson.
He died in London, having continued to practice medicine until a few years before his death. He was married to Beryl, and had two children, Richard and Adrienne. His brother was Arnold Silverstone
Arnold Silverstone, Baron Ashdown
Arnold Silverstone, Baron Ashdown was a British life peer. On 3 January 1975, he was created Baron Ashdown, of Chelwood in the County of East Sussex....
, later Lord Ashdown.
In his memory the Lord Stone Trust was founded. This was merged with the Lord Ashdown Charitable Settlement to form the Stone Ashdown Trust.
In 2002, Harold Wilson's former press secretary Joe Haines alleged that Stone had plotted to murder Marcia Falkender in 1975, to prevent her from revealing that she and Wilson had had an affair; Falkender has rejected Haines's allegations as "outrageous" . Bernard Donoughue claimed in a 2011 documentary to have also heard Stone say, "it was in the national interest she be put down." However, there is no evidence behind this story beyond the word of Haines and Donoghue, and it was only raised in their books many years after Lord Stone's death. Joe Stone remained private doctor to the Wilsons, and Marcia Falkender until his death.
Controversy and unclarity about events during this period were also approached by the BBC 4 drama 'The Lavendar List.' Marcia Falkender sued the BBC for libel, and won £75,000 and an agreement by the BBC never to show the documentary drama again. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6525657.stm