John Smith (Conservative politician)
Sir John Smith Christopher Tugendhat | |
---|---|
Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire | |
In office 1975–1978 | |
Personal details | |
Born | John Linsday Eric Smith 3 April 1923 London, England |
Died | 28 February 2007 Windsor, England | (aged 83)
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse |
Christian Carnegy (m. 1952) |
Children | 5 |
Education | Banker, politician |
Sir John Lindsay Eric Smith
Early and private life
Smith was born in London, the son of
Smith was educated at
After the War, he read history at New College, Oxford, where he later became an honorary fellow in 1979. He met his future wife, Christian Carnegy, in Oxford, where she was reading English. They married in 1952.
The couple had two sons and three daughters:
- Serena Mary Smith (married Christopher Soames, Baron Soames)
- Bartholomew Evan Eric Smith (born 1 February 1955; founder of the Amber Foundation and West London Aero Club)
- Adam Carnegy Eric Smith (born 1953)
- Dido Smith
- Emma Smith, who pre-deceased him
Smith owned a property at No. 1, Smith Square, in his former constituency. However, he resided at Shottesbrooke Park, near Maidenhead in Berkshire, the ancient home of the Vansittart family which he inherited from his father's second cousin in 1962.
He died in Windsor. He was survived by his wife, their two sons, and two of their three daughters.
Financial and political career
He followed the family tradition of being a director of
He also joined the boards of many other companies, including
He was a
He served as High Steward of
He greatly enjoyed travelling, and claimed to be the first man to visit all of the explorers' huts in Antarctica.
Conservation
Smith served on committees of the
He founded the Manifold Trust in 1962, to raise money for charity by buying long leases close to the date of their expiry. The rather speculative venture was very successful, producing a "cataract of gold" which funded many of his charitable interests, including the Landmark Trust, which he and Lady Smith founded three years later, and which still operates from their estate at Shottesbrooke. Sir John identified and acquired properties for restoration, while Lady Smith supervised their fitting out, commissioning soft furnishings for each inspired by objects or design features associated with the buildings.[1]
He was involved in canal restoration through his friendship with L. T. C. Rolt, and was a driving force behind the preservation of HMS Belfast, HMS Warrior and SS Great Britain.
References
- ^ "Christian Smith". Landmark Trust.
- Obituary, The Independent, 1 March 2007
- Obituary, The Daily Telegraph, 3 March 2007
- Obituary, The Times, 3 March 2007
- Obituary, The Guardian, 10 March 2007