Robert Gavron, Baron Gavron
Encyclopedia
Robert Gavron, Baron Gavron CBE (born 13 September 1930) is a British
printing millionaire, philanthropist and a Labour
Life Peer
.
Gavron is the son of Leah and Nathan Gavron. He studied at Leighton Park School
in Reading
and St Peter's College, Oxford
and became a barrister, called to the bar by Middle Temple
in 1955. The same year he married his first wife, Hannah Fyvel, who died in 1965. He founded the St Ives Group in 1964, serving as Chairman 1964-93. He was the Director of Octopus Publishing plc. between 1975–87 and Electra Management plc. 1981-92; proprietor of The Carcanet Press Ltd. from 1983; and the Chairman of the Folio Society
since 1982, the National Gallery Co Ltd (formerly named National Gallery Publications Ltd.) 1996-98, and the Guardian Media Group plc.
1997-2000.
He was chairman of the Open College of the Arts
1991-96, a director of the Royal Opera House
1992-98, a trustee of the National Gallery 1994-2001, the Scott Trust
1997-2000, and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation 1987-2005. He has been a governor of the London School of Economics
since 1997 and chairs his own charitable trust. He was in 1996 elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Gavron and his second wife, Nicky Gavron
(née Nicolette Coates), are active in the Labour Party. Nicky Gavron, a long-serving Local Authority Councillor, was subsequently elected to the London Assembly
and was Deputy Mayor of London
from 2004 to 2008. They divorced in 1987 and he has since married for a third time in 1989, to Katharine Gardiner (née Macnair).
Bob Gavron was a financial contributor to the Labour Leader's Office Fund
run by Lord Levy to finance Tony Blair's
private office before the 1997 General Election
. Gavron received a life peerage as Baron Gavron, of Highgate
in the Borough of Camden
, on 6 August 1999.
Gavron's daughter is the film director Sarah Gavron
, and his grandson is the actor Rafi Gavron
.
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...
printing millionaire, philanthropist and a Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
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...
.
Gavron is the son of Leah and Nathan Gavron. He studied at Leighton Park School
Leighton Park School
Leighton Park School is a co-educational Quaker independent school for both day and boarding pupils. It is situated in the large town of Reading in Berkshire, in South East England...
in Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
and St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, located in New Inn Hall Street. It occupies the site of two of the University's oldest Inns, or medieval hostels - Bishop Trellick's, later New Inn Hall, and Rose Hall - both of which were...
and became a barrister, called to the bar by Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1955. The same year he married his first wife, Hannah Fyvel, who died in 1965. He founded the St Ives Group in 1964, serving as Chairman 1964-93. He was the Director of Octopus Publishing plc. between 1975–87 and Electra Management plc. 1981-92; proprietor of The Carcanet Press Ltd. from 1983; and the Chairman of the Folio Society
Folio Society
The Folio Society is a book club based in London that produces new editions of classic books. Their books are notable for their high quality bindings and original illustrations...
since 1982, the National Gallery Co Ltd (formerly named National Gallery Publications Ltd.) 1996-98, and the Guardian Media Group plc.
Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
1997-2000.
He was chairman of the Open College of the Arts
Open College of the Arts
The Open College of the Arts is a distance learning independent arts college, with a Head Office in Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England...
1991-96, a director of the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
1992-98, a trustee of the National Gallery 1994-2001, the Scott Trust
Scott Trust
The Scott Trust Limited is the British company which owns Guardian Media Group and thus The Guardian, The Observer and Auto Trader as well as various local newspapers, Smooth Radio and other radio stations, and various other media businesses in the UK...
1997-2000, and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation 1987-2005. He has been a governor of the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
since 1997 and chairs his own charitable trust. He was in 1996 elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Royal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature is the "senior literary organisation in Britain". It was founded in 1820 by George IV, in order to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". The Society's first president was Thomas Burgess, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury...
Gavron and his second wife, Nicky Gavron
Nicky Gavron
Felicia Nicolette C. "Nicky" Gavron, née Coates is a British politician, former Deputy Mayor of London, a member of the London Assembly and the former Labour candidate for the 2004 Mayor of London elections.- Biography :...
(née Nicolette Coates), are active in the Labour Party. Nicky Gavron, a long-serving Local Authority Councillor, was subsequently elected to the London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
and was Deputy Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
from 2004 to 2008. They divorced in 1987 and he has since married for a third time in 1989, to Katharine Gardiner (née Macnair).
Bob Gavron was a financial contributor to the Labour Leader's Office Fund
Labour Leader's Office Fund
The Labour Leader's Office Fund was a blind trust established and run by Lord Levy to finance Tony Blair's work in opposition before the 1997 General Election...
run by Lord Levy to finance Tony Blair's
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
private office before the 1997 General Election
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...
. Gavron received a life peerage as Baron Gavron, of Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
in the Borough of Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
, on 6 August 1999.
Gavron's daughter is the film director Sarah Gavron
Sarah Gavron
Sarah Gavron is a British film director. She graduated from the University of York with a BA in English in 1992 and an MA in film studies from Edinburgh University and then worked for the BBC for three years...
, and his grandson is the actor Rafi Gavron
Rafi Gavron
Raphael Pichey "Rafi" Gavron is a British actor, known for his roles in the Anthony Minghella romantic-drama film Breaking and Entering , and the 2008 movies Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and the fantasy Inkheart....
.