Charles Frank Byers, Baron Byers, (24 July 1915 – 6 February 1984) was a British
Liberal Party
The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left.
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politician who later became a life peer and Privy Councillor.
Background
Byers was born in Wallasey, Cheshire. He was the son of Charles Cecil Byers (1888–1957), a
Lloyd's underwriter, who was Liberal candidate for
Westbury at the
1935 general election. He moved with the family to Potters Bar and was educated at
Westminster School
(God Gives the Increase)
, established = Earliest records date from the 14th century, refounded in 1560
, type = Public school Independent day and boarding school
, religion = Church of England
, head_label = Hea ...
, followed by
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church ( la, Ædes Christi, the temple or house, '' ædēs'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, the college is uniqu ...
, where he won a
Blue
Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when obs ...
for athletics. At Oxford he was president of the
Union of Liberal Students
The Union of Liberal Students (ULS) was the England and Wales, English and Welsh student wing of the United Kingdom's Liberal Party (UK), Liberal Party. The Scottish Liberal Party had a separate organisation, Scottish Liberal Students.
ULS was f ...
and president of the
University Liberal Club. His treasurer was
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, (11 March 1916 – 24 May 1995) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from October 1964 to June 1970, and again from March 1974 to April 1976. He ...
, later
Labour Party prime minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
.
Byers was also an exchange scholar at
Milton Academy
Milton Academy (also known as Milton) is a highly selective, coeducational, independent preparatory, boarding and day school in Milton, Massachusetts consisting of a grade 9–12 Upper School and a grade K–8 Lower School. Boarding is offered ...
,
.
While at the University of Oxford, where he gained his degree in
Philosophy, Politics and Economics, he met Joan Oliver, whom he married in 1939. They had a son and three daughters. Joan Oliver was a committed Liberal in her own right and was a constant help to her husband during his political career.
Byers was admitted to
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and Wale ...
after university, but broke off his legal education to enlist. During the Second World War, Byers served in the
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...
, rising to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and for a time serving on
Field Marshal Montgomery
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, (; 17 November 1887 – 24 March 1976), nicknamed "Monty", was a senior British Army officer who served in the First World War, the Irish War of Independence and th ...
's staff. He was
mentioned in dispatches
To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...
three times, was created a Chevalier of the
Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, ...
, and was awarded the
Croix de Guerre
The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...
. In 1944 he was appointed an
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
.
In the
1945 general election
The following elections occurred in the year 1945.
Africa
* 1945 South-West African legislative election
Asia
* 1945 Indian general election
Australia
* 1945 Fremantle by-election
Europe
* 1945 Albanian parliamentary election
* 1945 Bulgaria ...
, Byers gained the formerly
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...
seat of
North Dorset
North Dorset was a local government district in Dorset, England. It was largely rural, but included the towns of Blandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Stalbridge and Sturminster Newton. Much of North Dorset was in the River Stour vall ...
, with the absence of a
Labour
Labour or labor may refer to:
* Childbirth, the delivery of a baby
* Labour (human activity), or work
** Manual labour, physical work
** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer
** Organized labour and the labour ...
candidate being a key factor in this success. In 1946 Byers was appointed Liberal Chief Whip and gained a reputation for hard work and effective organisation both in parliament and at Liberal Party headquarters. However he was unable to hold the seat in 1950, losing by just 97 votes to the Conservatives following Labour's decision to stand a candidate. He unsuccessfully tried to re-enter the House of Commons in 1960 at the
Bolton East by-election.
On 22 December 1964 Byers was created a
life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. In modern times, life peerages, always created at the rank of baron, are created under the Life Peerages ...
as Baron Byers, ''of
Lingfield Lingfield can refer to:
* Lingfield, County Durham, England, a village
* Lingfield, Surrey, England, a village
** Lingfield Park Racecourse
** Lingfield Cricket Club, prominent in the 18th century
** Lingfield railway station, serving the villag ...
in the
County of Surrey
Surrey () is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant ur ...
'' and three years later he became leader of the Liberal peers. He was created a
Privy Councillor
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
in 1972.
Outside Parliament, Byers was a businessman, a director of
Rio Tinto Zinc
Rio Tinto Group is an Anglo-Australian multinational company that is the world's second-largest metals and mining corporation (behind BHP). The company was founded in 1873 when of a group of investors purchased a mine complex on the Rio Tinto, ...
from 1962–73 and a broadcaster. He died of a heart attack on 6 February 1984. A memorial service was held in
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United ...
on 5 April 1984.
[''The Times'', 6 April 1984] His daughter Louise married
Dipak Nandy
Dipak K. Nandy (born 21 May 1936) is an Indian academic and administrator.
Beginning his career as a lecturer in English literature, Nandy developed greater interests in race relations and was the first director of the Runnymede Trust. He was late ...
, an Indian academic and politician. Louise's daughter,
Lisa Nandy
Lisa Eva Nandy (born 9 August 1979) is a British politician serving as Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities since 2021. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Wigan since 2010.
N ...
, is a Labour MP.
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Byers, Frank
Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford
British Army personnel of World War II
Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur
Deputy Lieutenants of Surrey
Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
Liberal Party (UK) life peers
Members of Gray's Inn
Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
1915 births
1984 deaths
People educated at Westminster School, London
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
Royal Artillery officers
UK MPs 1945–1950
UK MPs who were granted peerages
Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for constituencies in Dorset
People from Wallasey
Chairs of the Liberal Party (UK)
Life peers created by Elizabeth II