Arthur Cockfield, Baron Cockfield

Francis Arthur Cockfield, Baron Cockfield,

Cockfield was born in Horsham, West Sussex, a month after his father, Lieutenant C. F. Cockfield, died at the Battle of the Somme. He was educated at Dover Grammar School, then read for an LLB and a BSc (Econ) at the London School of Economics.

Career

Cockfield joined the Inland Revenue in 1938, and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1942. He progressed rapidly within the Inland Revenue, serving as Director of Statistics from 1945 to 1952 and as a Commissioner from 1951 to 1952, before joining retailer Boots as its finance director. He was its managing director and chairman from 1961 to 1967. He was also a member of Selwyn Lloyd's National Economic Development Council from 1962 to 1964.^{[citation needed]}

Cockfield was known by his first name, Frank, for most of his life but hated it. When he married his first wife, Ruth Simonis, his granddaughter, Emma, recalls how he told her he wished to use his middle name instead: "All my life I've been called Frank but I've hated it – you're to call me Arthur."^{[citation needed]}

Cockfield left Boots to become an adviser to the Conservative politician Iain Macleod on taxation and economic matters, and was president of the Royal Statistical Society from 1968 to 1969. Macleod died shortly after the Conservatives took power in 1970, but Cockfield went on to advise Anthony Barber, Macleod's successor as Chancellor of the Exchequer, until 1973. He then served as chairman of the Price Commission from 1973 to 1977, receiving a knighthood in 1973 New Years Honours List.^{[citation needed]}

Political career

Cockfield was created Baron Cockfield, of

]

After the

Single European Market in 1992. Only a few months after he arrived in Brussels, he produced a mammoth white paper listing 300 barriers to trade, with a timetable for them to be abolished. He was not selected^{[clarification needed]} to serve a second term, and was replaced by Leon Brittan.^{[citation needed}

]

Later career

After leaving the Commission in 1988, Cockfield became a consultant for accountants Peat, Marwick, McLintock. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II of Belgium in 1990, and honorary doctorates and fellowships from a number of British and American universities.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

He married twice. He married his first wife, Ruth Helen Simonis, in 1943, but they divorced in the early 1960s. They had a daughter and a son. He later married choreographer Monica Mudie, in 1970; she died in 1992.

Lord Cockfield is buried, along with his wife Monica, on the Isle of Man.

Arms

Coat of arms of Arthur Cockfield, Baron Cockfield

Crest A globe rising Or issuing therefrom a lymphad sail furled Azure flying from the main and stern masts flags Gules therein two human figures that in the stern pulling an oar Or. Escutcheon Chequy Azure and Gules two flaunches conjoined to three barrulets Or. Supporters On either side a cock Azure combed wattled beaked and legged Gules gorged with a mural crown Or. Motto Prorsum Specta Nec Rursum[4] Badge A Square Billet embattled chequy Azure and Or.

References

1. ^ "EU Archives" (PDF). European Union. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
2. ISBN 9780471952077
   . Retrieved 28 March 2017.
3. ^ "No. 47519". The London Gazette. 24 April 1978. p. 4731.
4. ^ Debrett's Peerage. 2003. p. 345.

External links

• Obituary, The Times, 10 January 2007
• Obituary, The Guardian, 11 January 2007
• Obituary, The Daily Telegraph, 11 January 2007
• Obituary, The Independent, 22 January 2007

Political offices
Preceded by John Biffen	Secretary of State for Trade 1982–1983	Succeeded by Cecil Parkinson as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
Preceded by Cecil Parkinson	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1983–1984	Succeeded by The Earl of Gowrie
Preceded by Christopher Tugendhat	Stanley Clinton-Davis	Succeeded by Leon Brittan
Preceded by Ivor Richard		Succeeded by Bruce Millan
Preceded by Karl-Heinz Narjes	European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services 1985–1989	Succeeded by Martin Bangemann