Simon Arthur, 4th Baron Glenarthur
Encyclopedia
Major Simon Mark Arthur, 4th Baron Glenarthur DL
, FCILT
, FRAeS
(born 7 October 1944) is a British
peer, pilot and businessman. Having succeeded to his father's titles in 1976, he is one of the ninety hereditary peer
s elected to remain in the House of Lords
after the House of Lords Act 1999
, and sits as a Conservative
.
The son of the 3rd Baron Glenarthur, he was educated at Eton College
. Commissioned to the 10th Royal Hussars in 1963, Glenarthur was Aide-de-Camp
to the High Commissioner
of Aden in 1964 and 1965. Between 1976 and 1980, he served as Major
in The Royal Hussars, Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve and was Captain
for British Airways Helicopters
between 1976 and 1982.
Glenarthur served in the government of Margaret Thatcher
in the House of Lords, and in 1982 became a Lord-in-Waiting
(Government Whip) and became Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Security
(DHSS) in 1983. He then moved to the Home Office
before being promoted to Minister of State for Scotland in 1986. His last ministerial appointment was as Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 1987 to 1989. Amongst his particular responsibilities were Hong Kong
and the United Kingdom's relationship with China
.
From 1977 to 1982, Glenarthur was director of Aberdeen and Texas Corporate Finance Ltd and from 1979 to 1982 for ABTEX Computer Systems Ltd. He was Senior Executive of Hanson plc
from 1989 to 1996, Deputy Chairman of Hanson Pacific Ltd from 1994 to 1998 and director of Whirly Bird Services Ltd from 1995 to 2004. He was further consultant to British Aerospace
from 1989 to 1999 and President of the National Council for Civil Protection from 1991 to 2003. For the British Helicopter Advisory Board
, he was chairman between 1992 and 2004, and is its president since 2004. Lord Glenarthur was director of Lewis Group in 1993 and 1994, was consultant
to Chevron UK Ltd
from 1994 to 1997 and director of Millennium Chemicals
from 1996 to 2004. He was also consultant to Hanson plc from 1996 to 1999 and to the Imperial Tobacco Group plc from 1996 to 1998, chairman of the European Helicopter Association from 1996 to 2003 and of the International Federation of Helicopter Associations from 1997 to 2004, and is governor of the Nuffield Hospitals since 2000. Between 2001 and 2002, he was consultant to Audax Trading Ltd, and director between 2003 and 2005. Since 2001, he has been Commissioner
of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
, since 2002 director of The Medical Defence Union and since 2005 director of Andax Global.
Glenarthur has been council member of The Air League since 1994 and was member of the National Employers Liaison Committee for Her Majesty's Reserve Forces from 1996 to 2002. Since 2002, he is also chairman of the National Employer Advisory Board for Britain's Reserve Forces. He is Lieutenant of the Royal Company of Archers
, since 2002 Honorary Colonel of the 306 Field Hospital and since 2004 Honorary Air Commodore of the 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron
, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
. In 1992, Glenarthur became a Freeman
of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators
and in 1996 a Liveryman
. Having been a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
since 1978, he was made a Fellow
in 1999. He is further a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
since 1992, and a Freeman of the City of London
since 1996.
Glenarthur has been married to Susan Barry, a great-granddaughter of the Earl of Dunmore
and a great-great-granddaughter of the Earl of Leicester
, since 1969; they have one son, Hon Edward Alexander Arthur, and one daughter.
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....
, FCILT
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport is a professional body representing the transport and logistics industries worldwide...
, FRAeS
Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
(born 7 October 1944) is 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...
peer, pilot and businessman. Having succeeded to his father's titles in 1976, he is one of the ninety 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 elected to remain in the 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....
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;...
, and sits as 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...
.
The son of the 3rd Baron Glenarthur, he was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
. Commissioned to the 10th Royal Hussars in 1963, Glenarthur was Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
of Aden in 1964 and 1965. Between 1976 and 1980, he served as Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in The Royal Hussars, Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve and was Captain
Pilot in command
The pilot in command of an aircraft is the person aboard the aircraft who is ultimately responsible for its operation and safety during flight. This would be the "captain" in a typical two- or three-pilot flight crew, or "pilot" if there is only one certified and qualified pilot at the controls of...
for British Airways Helicopters
British Airways Helicopters
British Airways Helicopters was a British helicopter airline from 1964 to 1986.-History:From 1947 British European Airways had operated a Helicopter Experiment Unit and five helicopters were ordered from the United States .The unit operated timetabled mail services in East Anglia during 1948 using...
between 1976 and 1982.
Glenarthur served in the government of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
in the House of Lords, and in 1982 became a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
(Government Whip) and became Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at 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:...
(DHSS) in 1983. He then moved to the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
before being promoted to Minister of State for Scotland in 1986. His last ministerial appointment was as Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 1987 to 1989. Amongst his particular responsibilities were Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and the United Kingdom's relationship with China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
From 1977 to 1982, Glenarthur was director of Aberdeen and Texas Corporate Finance Ltd and from 1979 to 1982 for ABTEX Computer Systems Ltd. He was Senior Executive of Hanson plc
Hanson plc
Hanson plc is a British based international building materials company, headquartered in Maidenhead. Traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index for many years, the company was acquired by a division of German rival Heidelberg Cement in August 2007.-History:Hanson...
from 1989 to 1996, Deputy Chairman of Hanson Pacific Ltd from 1994 to 1998 and director of Whirly Bird Services Ltd from 1995 to 2004. He was further consultant to British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
from 1989 to 1999 and President of the National Council for Civil Protection from 1991 to 2003. For the British Helicopter Advisory Board
British Helicopter Advisory Board
-History:The British Helicopter Advisory Board was formed in January 1969 at the instigation of some leading members of commercial helicopter companies in the UK. They realised that there was no single authoritative voice speaking for the whole helicopter industry similar to organisations which...
, he was chairman between 1992 and 2004, and is its president since 2004. Lord Glenarthur was director of Lewis Group in 1993 and 1994, was consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
to Chevron UK Ltd
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
from 1994 to 1997 and director of Millennium Chemicals
Millennium Chemicals
Millennium Inorganic Chemicals is a Hunt Valley, MD based chemical company.The business was established in 1985. It was a subsidiary of British conglomerate Hanson plc at one time, but was demerged on 1 October 1996, when it became an independent listed company...
from 1996 to 2004. He was also consultant to Hanson plc from 1996 to 1999 and to the Imperial Tobacco Group plc from 1996 to 1998, chairman of the European Helicopter Association from 1996 to 2003 and of the International Federation of Helicopter Associations from 1997 to 2004, and is governor of the Nuffield Hospitals since 2000. Between 2001 and 2002, he was consultant to Audax Trading Ltd, and director between 2003 and 2005. Since 2001, he has been Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Royal Hospital Chelsea
The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement home and nursing home for British soldiers who are unfit for further duty due to injury or old age, located in the Chelsea region of central London, now the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is a true hospital in the original sense of the word,...
, since 2002 director of The Medical Defence Union and since 2005 director of Andax Global.
Glenarthur has been council member of The Air League since 1994 and was member of the National Employers Liaison Committee for Her Majesty's Reserve Forces from 1996 to 2002. Since 2002, he is also chairman of the National Employer Advisory Board for Britain's Reserve Forces. He is Lieutenant of the Royal Company of Archers
Royal Company of Archers
The Royal Company of Archers is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland, a role it has performed since 1822 and the reign of King George IV, when the company provided a personal bodyguard to the King on his visit to Scotland. It is currently known as the Queen's...
, since 2002 Honorary Colonel of the 306 Field Hospital and since 2004 Honorary Air Commodore of the 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron
No. 612 Squadron RAF
No. 612 Squadron RAF was originally formed in 1937 as an Army Co-operation unit, and flew during World War II in the General Reconnaissance role. After the war the squadron was reformed and flew in the Day Fighter role until disbanded in 1957. At present the squadron has a non-flying role as a...
, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
. In 1992, Glenarthur became a Freeman
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators
Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators
The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Guild was established in 1929 and was granted the status of a Livery Company in 1956...
and in 1996 a Liveryman
Liveryman
For Livery Companies in the City of London, a Liveryman is a full member of their respective Company.Livery Company members fall into two basic categories: Freemen and Liverymen. One may join as a Freeman, and thereby acquire the "Freedom of the Company", upon fulfilling the Company's criteria...
. Having been a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport is a professional body representing the transport and logistics industries worldwide...
since 1978, he was made a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
in 1999. He is further a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
since 1992, and a Freeman of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
since 1996.
Glenarthur has been married to Susan Barry, a great-granddaughter of the Earl of Dunmore
Earl of Dunmore
Earl of Dunmore is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1686 for Lord Charles Murray, second son of John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl. He was made Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet and Viscount of Fincastle at the same time, also in the Peerage of Scotland. He was...
and a great-great-granddaughter of the Earl of Leicester
Earl of Leicester
The title Earl of Leicester was created in the 12th century in the Peerage of England , and is currently a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1837.-Early creations:...
, since 1969; they have one son, Hon Edward Alexander Arthur, and one daughter.