William Bradshaw, Baron Bradshaw
Encyclopedia
William Peter Bradshaw, Baron Bradshaw (October 1936 – ), commonly known as Bill Bradshaw, is a British
academic and politician. A Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords
, where he is currently his party's spokesperson on transport, he was formerly also a County Councillor
in Oxfordshire
from 1993 until his resignation in January 2008.
The son of Leonard and Ivy Bradshaw, he was educated at Slough Grammar School
and the University of Reading
. He married Jill Hayward in 1957, by whom he has two children; after Jill's death in 2002, he married Diana Ayris in 2003.
After National Service
from 1957 to 1959, he worked for British Rail
from 1959 to 1985, starting as a management trainee in the Western Region and rising to the post of Director Policy Unit in 1980, and General manager of British Rail's Western Region 1983.
After leaving British Rail, Bradshaw was Professor of Transport Management at the University of Salford
from 1986-92, a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford
, and then Chair of Ulsterbus
and Citybus Ltd in Belfast
from 1987-93. He was a special adviser to the House of Commons
Transport Select Committee from 1992-97.
He was created a Life peer
as Baron Bradshaw, of Wallingford in the County of Oxfordshire
in 1999.
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...
academic and politician. A Liberal Democrat member of 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....
, where he is currently his party's spokesperson on transport, he was formerly also a County Councillor
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
from 1993 until his resignation in January 2008.
The son of Leonard and Ivy Bradshaw, he was educated at Slough Grammar School
Slough Grammar School
The school is a Language College, a Science College, a Leading Edge School, an ICT-Focus School, a Training School, an International School under the International Baccalaureate Organization and a participant in the Primary Language Initiative. From September 2004 it has offered some International...
and 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...
. He married Jill Hayward in 1957, by whom he has two children; after Jill's death in 2002, he married Diana Ayris in 2003.
After National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
from 1957 to 1959, he worked for British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
from 1959 to 1985, starting as a management trainee in the Western Region and rising to the post of Director Policy Unit in 1980, and General manager of British Rail's Western Region 1983.
After leaving British Rail, Bradshaw was Professor of Transport Management at the University of Salford
University of Salford
The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...
from 1986-92, a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
, and then Chair of Ulsterbus
Ulsterbus
Ulsterbus is a public transport operator in Northern Ireland and operates bus services outside Belfast. It is part of Translink , which also includes Northern Ireland Railways, Metro Belfast and Flexibus.-Services:Ulsterbus is responsible for most of the province-wide bus...
and Citybus Ltd in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
from 1987-93. He was a special adviser to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
Transport Select Committee from 1992-97.
He was created 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...
as Baron Bradshaw, of Wallingford in the County of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
in 1999.
External links
- Who's who: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat website)
- Announcement of his introduction at the House of Lords House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 26 July 1999