Frank Byers

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the American lawyer and politician, see Frank C. Byers.

Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
In office
22 December 1964 – 6 February 1984
Personal details
Born
Charles Frank Byers

(1915-07-24)24 July 1915
Wallasey, Cheshire, England
Died6 February 1984(1984-02-06) (aged 68)
Westminster, London, England
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Joan Oliver
​
(m. 1939)​
Children4
RelativesLisa Nandy (granddaughter)
OccupationPolitician
Military career
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1940–1945
RankLieutenant colonel
Service number124272
UnitRoyal Artillery
Battles / warsWorld War II
Awards

Charles Frank Byers, Baron Byers,

DL (24 July 1915 – 6 February 1984) was a British Liberal Party
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, followed by Christ Church, Oxford, where he won a Blue for athletics. At Oxford he was president of the Union of Liberal Students and president of the University Liberal Club. His treasurer was Harold Wilson, later Labour Party prime minister.

Byers was also an exchange scholar at

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

Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[3]

In the 1945 general election, Byers gained the formerly Conservative seat of North Dorset, with the absence of a Labour candidate being a key factor in this success. In 1946 Byers was appointed Liberal Chief Whip[4] and gained a reputation for hard work and effective organisation both in parliament and at Liberal Party headquarters.[5] 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

Privy Councillor in 1972.[8]

Outside Parliament, Byers was a businessman, a director of

Rio Tinto Zinc from 1962 to 1973 and a broadcaster.[9] He died of a heart attack on 6 February 1984.[10] A memorial service was held in Westminster Abbey on 5 April 1984.[11] His daughter, TV producer (Ann) Luise married Dipak Nandy, an Indian academic and politician. Luise's daughter, Lisa Nandy
, is a Labour MP.

References

  1. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U162583. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  2. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/30889. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  3. ^ "No. 36317". The London Gazette. 4 January 1944. p. 149.
  4. ^ The Times, 21 March 1946
  5. ^ A History of the Liberal Party in the Twentieth Century, David Dutton, Palgrave Macmillan (2004) p.207
  6. ^ "No. 43522". The London Gazette. 22 December 1964. p. 10933.
  7. ^ The Times, 23 December 1964
  8. ^ The Times, 3 June 1972
  9. ^ The Times, 6 August 1973
  10. ^ The Times, 7 February 1984 – obituary
  11. ^ The Times, 6 April 1984

Further reading

  • Douglas, Roy (1998). "Frank Byers (Lord Byers)". In Brack, Duncan (ed.). Dictionary of Liberal Biography. Politico's.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for North Dorset
1945–1950 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by
Liberal Chief Whip

1946–1950 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Patrick Moynihan
 Chairman of the Liberal Party
1950–1952 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Leader of the Liberals in the House of Lords

1967–1984 		Succeeded by
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