Richard Livsey, Baron Livsey of Talgarth
Encyclopedia
Richard Arthur Lloyd Livsey, Baron Livsey of Talgarth CBE
(2 May 1935 - 15 September 2010) was the son of Arthur Norman Livsey and Lilian Maisie ( née James). His father was a seacaptain who died in Iraq when Richard was just three years old. He was therefore brought up in a single parent household by his mother, Lilian, who was a local teacher and headmistress. It was she who had a great influence in his life. He was a British
politician
who was the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament
for Brecon and Radnorshire
. Baron Livsey was educated at Talgarth County Primary, Bedales School, Sealle-Hayne Agriultural College and Reading University (MSc in agricultural management). On 3 April 1964 he married Irene Earsman of Castle Douglas, Galloway and they went on to have two sons and one daughter.
from 1961-67. He then went on to become the farm manager on the Blairdrummond Estate in Perthshire
from 1967-71. Baron Livsey then returned to Wales as a senior lecture at the Welsh Agricultural College, Llanbadarn Fawr until 1985. He had one further spell in employment outside of Westminster politics when he lost office in 1992. He become the Development Manager of ATB-Landbase Cymru from 1993-1997.
Baron Livsey won his home constituency at the second attempt at the Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1985
(it subsequently became Brecon and Radnorshire), as a Liberal, with a majority of 559. The by-election was one of the most notable successes of the SDP-Liberal Alliance period. It was the only Welsh Liberal parliamentary gain in Wales. With a background as a farm manager and lecturer in farm management, he joined Parliament's Select Committee on Agriculture. Baron Livsey joined a group of three Welsh Liberal MPs (the others being his friend and mentor Geraint Howells
, and Alex Carlile). He held the same seat in the 1987 general election, subsequently becoming the Liberal Democrat spokesman on Wales, and held the position of Leader of the Party in Wales from 1988 to 1992. He was also a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee
. He lost the Brecon & Radnorshire seat at the United Kingdom general election, 1992
by the narrow margin of 130 votes, but regained it again at the United Kingdom general election, 1997
, with a majority of over 5,000. He then became leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats until he stood down in 2001. In that same year he was ennobled as Baron Livsey of Talgarth. As well as being a central figure in Welsh Liberal politics in the post war era Baron Livsey's main success was to build Brecon and Radnor into a Liberal Democrat stronghold which enabled Kirsty Williams
(Assembly Member) and his successor Roger Williams
to further strengthen the Liberal Democrat hold there.
, chairman of the Brecon Jazz Festival
and a member of the Talgarth Male Choir. He sang with them at their appearance at the Royal Albert Hall
in 2009.
He was succeeded by Roger Williams
at the United Kingdom general election, 2001
and was made a life peer
with the title Baron Livsey" of Talgarth
in the County of Powys
.
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...
(2 May 1935 - 15 September 2010) was the son of Arthur Norman Livsey and Lilian Maisie ( née James). His father was a seacaptain who died in Iraq when Richard was just three years old. He was therefore brought up in a single parent household by his mother, Lilian, who was a local teacher and headmistress. It was she who had a great influence in his life. He was a 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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who was the Liberal Democrat 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 Brecon and Radnorshire
Brecon and Radnorshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Brecon and Radnorshire is a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Created in 1918, it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election; until 1997 its name was simply Brecon and Radnor.The Brecon and Radnorshire Welsh...
. Baron Livsey was educated at Talgarth County Primary, Bedales School, Sealle-Hayne Agriultural College and Reading University (MSc in agricultural management). On 3 April 1964 he married Irene Earsman of Castle Douglas, Galloway and they went on to have two sons and one daughter.
Employment history
Baron Livsey was an agricultural development officer for ICIICI
ICI or Ici may mean:* ICI programming language, a computer programming language developed in 1992* Ici , an alternative weekly newspaper in Montreal, CanadaICI is also an abbreviation which may mean:...
from 1961-67. He then went on to become the farm manager on the Blairdrummond Estate in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
from 1967-71. Baron Livsey then returned to Wales as a senior lecture at the Welsh Agricultural College, Llanbadarn Fawr until 1985. He had one further spell in employment outside of Westminster politics when he lost office in 1992. He become the Development Manager of ATB-Landbase Cymru from 1993-1997.
Political career
Baron Livsey joined the Liberal Party in Wales in 1960. In 1970 he stood unsuccessfully as the party's Scottish candidate in Perth and East Perthshire. When he returned to Wales he became active in the Welsh Liberal Party and stood unsuccessfully for Pembroke in 1979 and Brecon and Radnor in 1983. Baron Livsey had been a keen supporter and activist during the 1979 St David's Day referendum on a Welsh Assembly on behalf of the Yes Campaign. He continued to be central to the pro devolution cause and was the leader of the Liberal Democrat campaign in the successful Welsh devolution referendum, 1997.Baron Livsey won his home constituency at the second attempt at the Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1985
Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1985
The Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1985 was a parliamentary by-election held on 4 July 1985 for the British House of Commons constituency of Brecon and Radnor .- Previous MP :The seat had become vacant on 9 May 1985, when the constituency's Conservative Member of Parliament ,...
(it subsequently became Brecon and Radnorshire), as a Liberal, with a majority of 559. The by-election was one of the most notable successes of the SDP-Liberal Alliance period. It was the only Welsh Liberal parliamentary gain in Wales. With a background as a farm manager and lecturer in farm management, he joined Parliament's Select Committee on Agriculture. Baron Livsey joined a group of three Welsh Liberal MPs (the others being his friend and mentor Geraint Howells
Geraint Howells
Geraint Wyn Howells, Baron Geraint was a leading Welsh Liberal Democrat politician.Howells was born in Ponterwyd in Cardiganshire. He was the son of David John and Mary Blodwen Howells, both farmers.-Education:...
, and Alex Carlile). He held the same seat in the 1987 general election, subsequently becoming the Liberal Democrat spokesman on Wales, and held the position of Leader of the Party in Wales from 1988 to 1992. He was also a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee
Welsh Affairs Select Committee
The Welsh Affairs Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
. He lost the Brecon & Radnorshire seat at the United Kingdom general election, 1992
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
by the narrow margin of 130 votes, but regained it again at the United Kingdom general election, 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, with a majority of over 5,000. He then became leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats until he stood down in 2001. In that same year he was ennobled as Baron Livsey of Talgarth. As well as being a central figure in Welsh Liberal politics in the post war era Baron Livsey's main success was to build Brecon and Radnor into a Liberal Democrat stronghold which enabled Kirsty Williams
Kirsty Williams
Victoria Kirsty Williams is a British politician. She is the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Member of the Welsh Assembly for Brecon and Radnorshire.-Early life:...
(Assembly Member) and his successor Roger Williams
Roger Williams
-People:* Roger Williams , Welsh soldier of fortune* Roger Williams , English theologian, co-founder of Rhode Island* Roger Williams , US actor...
to further strengthen the Liberal Democrat hold there.
Involvement with the community
Baron Livsey was an extremely active as a constituency MP and remained involved with the community, afterwards. He was patron of and active in many of the organisations in Brecon and Radnor. These included a role as President of the Hay FestivalHay Festival
The Hay Festival of Literature & Arts is an annual literature festival held in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales for ten days from May to June. Devised by Norman and Peter Florence in 1988, the festival was described by Bill Clinton in 2001 as "The Woodstock of the mind"...
, chairman of the Brecon Jazz Festival
Brecon Jazz Festival
Brecon Jazz Festival is a music festival held on an annual basis in the rural surroundings of Brecon, in south Powys, Mid Wales. Normally staged in early August, it plays host to a range of jazz musicians who travel from across the world to take part and to many visiting tourists who are attracted...
and a member of the Talgarth Male Choir. He sang with them at their appearance at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in 2009.
He was succeeded by Roger Williams
Roger Williams (UK politician)
Roger Hugh Williams is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Brecon and Radnorshire since the 2001 general election.-Early life:...
at the United Kingdom general election, 2001
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
and was made 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...
with the title Baron Livsey" of Talgarth
Talgarth
Talgarth is a small market town and community in southern Powys , Mid Wales, with a population of 1,645. Notable buildings in the town include its 14th-century parish church and 13th century Pele Tower, located in the town centre, now home to the Tourist Information and Resource Centre...
in the County of Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
.
External links
- Richard Livsey official site
- Lord Livsey of Talgarth profile at the site of Liberal Democrats