William Benyon
Encyclopedia
Sir William Richard Benyon (born 17 January 1930) is a retired British
Conservative Party
politician, Berkshire
landowner and former High Sheriff
. At least in his political persona, he generally preferred the familiar Bill Benyon form of his name.
He was born William Richard Shelley, the son of Vice-Admiral Richard Shelley (grandson of Richard Fellowes Benyon
) and his wife, Eve Alice Gascoyne-Cecil, the daughter of the Right Reverend Lord (Rupert Ernest) William Gascoyne-Cecil
, Bishop of Exeter
. His father changed his name to Benyon after inheriting the Englefield estate from his second cousin, Sir Henry Benyon
in 1959.
Benyon joined the Conservative Monday Club
prior to 1970, when he was elected as Member of Parliament
for Buckingham
at the 1970 general election
, and retained his seat at the next three elections. At the 1983 general election
he stood instead in the new Milton Keynes
, where he was re-elected until he retired at the 1992 general election
. Due to its increased population, the Milton Keynes seat was then divided into two new constituencies: Milton Keynes North East and Milton Keynes South West. This was the only division of a constituency at the 1992 general election.
Benyon never held government office, but served as an Opposition whip from 1974 to 1976. He served as a member of the University of Reading
Council from 1967 to 2002, was a member of Berkshire County Council from 1964 to 1974 and High Sheriff of Berkshire
in 1995. He lives at Englefield House and is a director of the Englefield Charitable Trust. His son, Richard Benyon
, is the Conservative
MP
for Newbury
.
In May 1993 Benyon was awarded an honorary degree
by the Open University
as Doctor of the University.
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...
Conservative Party
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, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
landowner and former High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
. At least in his political persona, he generally preferred the familiar Bill Benyon form of his name.
He was born William Richard Shelley, the son of Vice-Admiral Richard Shelley (grandson of Richard Fellowes Benyon
Richard Fellowes Benyon
Richard Fellowes Benyon , born Richard Fellowes, was a British Conservative politician and civil servant....
) and his wife, Eve Alice Gascoyne-Cecil, the daughter of the Right Reverend Lord (Rupert Ernest) William Gascoyne-Cecil
Lord William Gascoyne-Cecil
Lord Rupert Ernest William Gascoyne-Cecil was Bishop of Exeter from 1916 to 1936. He was the second son of Prime Minister Lord Salisbury. Educated at Eton and Oxford, he was rector of Hatfield for 28 years before being appointed bishop. Married in 1887, he had three daughters and four sons, three...
, Bishop of Exeter
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
. His father changed his name to Benyon after inheriting the Englefield estate from his second cousin, Sir Henry Benyon
Henry Benyon
Sir Henry Arthur Benyon, 1st Baronet JP was the immediate post-War Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire.Born Henry Arthur Fellowes, the son of James Herbert Fellowes of Kingston Maurward House near Dorchester, Dorset. His father changed his name to Benyon after inheriting the Englefield House estate in...
in 1959.
Benyon joined the Conservative Monday Club
Conservative Monday Club
The Conservative Monday Club is a British pressure group "on the right-wing" of the Conservative Party.-Overview:...
prior to 1970, when he was elected as 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 Buckingham
Buckingham (UK Parliament constituency)
Buckingham is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
at the 1970 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1970
The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on 18 June 1970, and resulted in a surprise victory for the Conservative Party under leader Edward Heath, who defeated the Labour Party under Harold Wilson. The election also saw the Liberal Party and its new leader Jeremy Thorpe lose half their...
, and retained his seat at the next three elections. At the 1983 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
he stood instead in the new Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes (UK Parliament constituency)
Milton Keynes was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983 until 1992.It covered the north Buckinghamshire Borough of Milton Keynes, including Milton Keynes itself together with Newport Pagnell, Olney and the rural area to the...
, where he was re-elected until he retired at the 1992 general election
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...
. Due to its increased population, the Milton Keynes seat was then divided into two new constituencies: Milton Keynes North East and Milton Keynes South West. This was the only division of a constituency at the 1992 general election.
Benyon never held government office, but served as an Opposition whip from 1974 to 1976. He served as a member of the University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
Council from 1967 to 2002, was a member of Berkshire County Council from 1964 to 1974 and High Sheriff of Berkshire
High Sheriff of Berkshire
The High Sheriff of Berkshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times. The word Sheriff evolved from 'shire-reeve'....
in 1995. He lives at Englefield House and is a director of the Englefield Charitable Trust. His son, Richard Benyon
Richard Benyon
Richard Henry Ronald Benyon MRICS is a British Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Newbury since 2005 and a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since May 2010.-Early life:Benyon was born in...
, is the 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...
MP
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 Newbury
Newbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Newbury is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It returns one Member of Parliament , elected by the first-past-the-post voting system....
.
In May 1993 Benyon was awarded an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
by the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
as Doctor of the University.