Peter Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton Mandeville

Peter Leonard Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton Mandeville,

Brooke was born in London, the son of Henry Brooke, the onetime Home Secretary, and Barbara Brooke.^[1][2] His parents were one of the few married couples where both partners held noble titles in their own right. His younger brother was the judge Sir Henry Brooke.^[3] He was educated at Marlborough College and Balliol College, Oxford, (where he was President of the Oxford Union) before going on to the Harvard Business School in the United States.^[1] After leaving university he worked as a headhunter and was Chairman of Spencer Stuart.^[4]

Parliamentary career

After unsuccessfully challenging Neil Kinnock at the Labour stronghold of Bedwellty in October 1974, he was elected as MP for the Cities of London and Westminster in a by-election in 1977. He was sworn into the Privy council in 1988. He was made Chairman of the Conservative Party in 1987, and then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 1989. His speech, made in November 1990 in London, is largely credited with bringing Sinn Féin to the negotiating table, in which he declared that Britain had no "selfish strategic or economic interest" in Northern Ireland and would accept unification, if the people wished it.^[5]

In January 1992, Brooke appeared on the Irish chat show, The Late Late Show. After a pleasant interview, the presenter, Gay Byrne, coaxed and goaded the unwilling Brooke into singing "Oh My Darling, Clementine", on a day when seven Protestant construction workers had been killed by an IRA bomb. Many unionists were outraged at what seemed to be a moment clearly out of touch with grieving families, and requested the resignation of Brooke.^[6] The incident was a factor in Brooke's being dropped from his position after the April 1992 general election, although Brooke claimed he had offered his resignation after the incident.^[7]

After leaving the Cabinet, Brooke stood unsuccessfully for the position of

In 1964, Brooke married Joan Smith; they had four sons, one of whom died as an infant, and were married until her death in 1985, from complications of a surgical procedure.[2] He married Lindsay Allinson in 1991.^[2]

Brooke died in Tisbury, Wiltshire, on 13 May 2023, at the age of 89.^[9]

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Peter Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton Mandeville

Coronet A Coronet of a Baron Crest A badger sejant erect Proper grasping with both forepaws over the shoulder a cudgel Or. Escutcheon Or two crosses engrailed and conjoined in fess that on the dexter per pale Gules and Sable that on the sinister per pale Sable and Gules. Supporters On either side statant upon a watering can the rose inwards Or a crow close Proper. Motto Ex Fonte Perenni (Out of an Everlasting Brook)[10] Badge Statant upon a watering can the rose to the dexter Or a crow wings elevated and addorsed Proper.

References