Mervyn Pike
Encyclopedia
Irene Mervyn Parnicott Pike, Baroness Pike, commonly known as Mervyn Pike, DBE
(16 September 1918 – 11 January 2004) was a British Conservative
politician.
Pike was educated at Hunmanby Hall, East Riding of Yorkshire
and Reading University and served with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force
during World War II
. She was managing director of a firm of pottery manufacturers.
Pike contested Pontefract
in 1951 and Leek
in 1955 without success. She was elected Member of Parliament
for Melton
at a by-election
in December 1956.
She held several positions including Assistant Postmaster-General
from 1959-63, joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
from 1963-64 and Chair of the WRVS
from 1974-81 and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission from 1981-85.
Pike was created a life peer
in 1974 as Baroness Pike, of Melton in the County of Leicestershire
and knighted in 1981. She died in 2004, unmarried, aged 85, from natural causes.
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...
(16 September 1918 – 11 January 2004) was a British Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
Pike was educated at Hunmanby Hall, East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
and Reading University and served with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force
Women's Auxiliary Air Force
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force , whose members were invariably referred to as Waafs , was the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force during World War II, established in 1939. At its peak strength, in 1943, WAAF numbers exceeded 180,000, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week.A Women's Royal Air...
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...
. She was managing director of a firm of pottery manufacturers.
Pike contested Pontefract
Pontefract (UK Parliament constituency)
Pontefract was an English parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Pontefract in the West Riding of Yorkshire, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons briefly in the 13th century and again from 1621 until 1885, and one member from 1885 to 1974.-In the unreformed...
in 1951 and Leek
Leek (UK Parliament constituency)
Leek was a parliamentary constituency in Staffordshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in 1955 without success. She was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Melton
Melton (UK Parliament constituency)
Melton was a county constituency centred on the town of Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
at a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in December 1956.
She held several positions including Assistant Postmaster-General
Assistant Postmaster-General
The Assistant Postmaster General is a defunct junior ministerial position in the United Kingdom Government.The title of Postmaster General was abolished under the Post Office Act 1969...
from 1959-63, joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
-Non-permanent and parliamentary under-secretaries, 1782-present:*April 1782: Evan Nepean*April 1782: Thomas Orde*July 1782: Henry Strachey*April 1783: George North*February 1784: Hon. John Townshend*June 1789: Scrope Bernard*July 1794: The Hon...
from 1963-64 and Chair of the WRVS
WRVS
The WRVS is a voluntary organisation concerned with helping people in need throughout England, Scotland and Wales....
from 1974-81 and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission from 1981-85.
Pike was 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 1974 as Baroness Pike, of Melton in the County of Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
and knighted in 1981. She died in 2004, unmarried, aged 85, from natural causes.
External links
- Baroness Pike's obituary in The Guardian
- Announcement of her death at the House of Lords House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 13 January 2004