Morys Bruce, 4th Baron Aberdare
Encyclopedia
Morys George Lyndhurst Bruce, 4th Baron Aberdare, KBE
, PC
, DL
(16 June 1919 – 23 January 2005) was a Conservative
politician, and from 1999 until his death, one of ninety-two elected hereditary peer
s in the British
House of Lords
. He was the eldest son of Clarence Bruce, 3rd Baron Aberdare
and Margaret Bethune Black, and succeeded to his father's title on the latter's death in 1957.
and New College, Oxford
where he read Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
, commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant
in the Welsh Guards
; he would eventually reach the rank of Captain
, after having served in various staff positions with XII Corps, the 21st Army Group, and XXX Corps during and after World War II
.
He joined the J. Arthur Rank
Organisation in 1947, working there for two years before moving to the British Broadcasting Corporation, where he worked between 1949 and 1956. In 1970, he became Minister of State
for the Department of Health and Social Security
; in 1974, he was appointed to the Privy Council
and became a Minister without Portfolio
. Between 1976 and 1992, he served as Chairman of Committees
of the House of Lords, (Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords). In 1984, he was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
, and he would serve various positions within the Order of St John of Jerusalem
. After the House of Lords Act 1999
prevented hereditary peers from sitting in the Lords solely by virtue of their peerages, Lord Aberdare became one of the ninety-two hereditary peers elected to stay in the House of Lords.
On 24 August 1992, he officially opened Chester City's
new football stadium, the Deva Stadium.
Lord Aberdare was a lifelong devotee of real tennis
, winning the British amateur singles championship four times between 1953 and 1957, and the amateur doubles championship four times between 1954 and 1961. He served as president of the Tennis and Rackets Association
from 1972 until 2004. During his tenure there was a significant expansion in both real tennis
and rackets
, and a number of new courts were built while several others were re-opened. His book, The JT Faber Book of Tennis and Rackets (London: Quiller Press, 2001. ISBN 1 899163 62 X), is the most comprehensive modern reference for these sports.
Lord Aberdare was President of the London Welsh Trust, which runs the London Welsh Centre
, from 1959 until 1962, and from 1969 to 1970.
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...
, PC
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(16 June 1919 – 23 January 2005) was a 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, and from 1999 until his death, one of ninety-two elected hereditary peer
Hereditary peer
Hereditary peers form part of the Peerage in the United Kingdom. There are over seven hundred peers who hold titles that may be inherited. Formerly, most of them were entitled to sit in the House of Lords, but since the House of Lords Act 1999 only ninety-two are permitted to do so...
s in the British
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...
House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. He was the eldest son of Clarence Bruce, 3rd Baron Aberdare
Clarence Bruce, 3rd Baron Aberdare
Clarence Napier Bruce, 3rd Baron Aberdare, GBE , styled The Honourable from 1895 to 1929, was a British military officer, cricketer, tennis player, and also an excellent golfer...
and Margaret Bethune Black, and succeeded to his father's title on the latter's death in 1957.
Education
Bruce was educated at Winchester CollegeWinchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
where he read Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
Career
In 1939 he joined the British ArmyBritish 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...
, commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Welsh Guards
Welsh Guards
The Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.-Creation :The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order...
; he would eventually reach the rank of Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
, after having served in various staff positions with XII Corps, the 21st Army Group, and XXX Corps during and after 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 joined the J. Arthur Rank
J. Arthur Rank
Joseph Arthur Rank, 1st Baron Rank was a British industrialist and film producer, and founder of the Rank Organisation, now known as The Rank Group Plc.- Family business :...
Organisation in 1947, working there for two years before moving to the British Broadcasting Corporation, where he worked between 1949 and 1956. In 1970, he became Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
for the Department of Health and Social Security
Department of Health and Social Security
The Department of Health and Social Security was a ministry of the British government in existence for twenty years from 1968 until 1988, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Social Services.-History:...
; in 1974, he was appointed to the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
and became a Minister without Portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
. Between 1976 and 1992, he served as Chairman of Committees
Chairman of Committees
The Chairman of Committees is an officer of the House of Lords who presides over the House when it is in committee both in the Lords Chamber and in Grand Committee, which is when committee stage is taken away from the floor to free up debating time in the main Chamber...
of the House of Lords, (Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords). In 1984, he was created a Knight Commander 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...
, and he would serve various positions within the Order of St John of Jerusalem
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
. After the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
prevented hereditary peers from sitting in the Lords solely by virtue of their peerages, Lord Aberdare became one of the ninety-two hereditary peers elected to stay in the House of Lords.
On 24 August 1992, he officially opened Chester City's
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
new football stadium, the Deva Stadium.
Lord Aberdare was a lifelong devotee of real tennis
Real tennis
Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended...
, winning the British amateur singles championship four times between 1953 and 1957, and the amateur doubles championship four times between 1954 and 1961. He served as president of the Tennis and Rackets Association
Tennis and Rackets Association
The Tennis and Rackets Association is the governing body for the sports of real tennis and rackets in the United Kingdom. Its first meeting was held in 1907.-Clubs:* Britannia Royal Naval College * Seacourt...
from 1972 until 2004. During his tenure there was a significant expansion in both real tennis
Real tennis
Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended...
and rackets
Racquets (sport)
Rackets or Racquets is an indoor racket sport played in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada...
, and a number of new courts were built while several others were re-opened. His book, The JT Faber Book of Tennis and Rackets (London: Quiller Press, 2001. ISBN 1 899163 62 X), is the most comprehensive modern reference for these sports.
Lord Aberdare was President of the London Welsh Trust, which runs the London Welsh Centre
London Welsh Centre
The London Welsh Centre is a community and arts centre on Gray's Inn Road, in the London Borough of Camden. The Centre is owned and run by the London Welsh Trust....
, from 1959 until 1962, and from 1969 to 1970.
Family
In 1946 he married Maud Helen Sarah Dashwood, daughter of Sir John Lindsay Dashwood, 10th Baronet, and Helen Moira Eaton. They had four children:- Alastair John Lyndhurst Bruce, 5th Baron AberdareAlastair Bruce, 5th Baron AberdareAlastair John Lyndhurst Bruce, 5th Baron Aberdare is the son of Morys George Lyndhurst Bruce, 4th Baron Aberdare and Maud Helen Sarah Dashwood, daughter of Sir John Dashwood, 10th Baronet...
(b. 2 May 1947) - Hon. James Henry Morys Bruce (b. 28 Dec 1948), married and has issue
- Hon. Henry Adam Francis Bruce (b. 5 Feb 1962), married and has issue
- Hon. Charles Benjamin Bruce (b. 29 May 1965)