Sir Ralph Verney, 5th Baronet
Early life
Born at Claydon House, Buckinghamshire,[1] Verney was the son of Sir Harry Verney, 4th Baronet and Lady Rachel Catherine Bruce, the daughter of Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin. He was educated at Canford School and Balliol College, Oxford, from where he graduated in 1937.[2] He then began his training as an accountant.
Military career
Following the outbreak of the
Conservation and public work
After returning from the Far East, Verney began a major restoration project on his family seat,
In 1980 he became Chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council, and used the NCC to promote the designation of some 4,000 locations as "sites of special scientific interest" under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, often against opposition from farmers and other interested parties. Verney's unpopularity among some in the landed element of the Conservative Party led to him not being reappointed by the government when his term expired in 1983.[6]
For 30 years Verney was a trustee of the
Personal life
He married Mary Vestey, daughter of Percy Charles Vestey and Dorothy Emmeline Johnston, on 7 July 1948. Together they had four children.[9]
References
- ISBN 978-0-9515657-0-4.
- ^ "Sir Ralph Verney Bt". The Telegraph. London. 30 August 2001. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "No. 34877". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 June 1940. p. 3767.
- ^ "No. 38026". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 July 1947. p. 3531.
- ^ "Sir Ralph Verney Bt". The Telegraph. London. 30 August 2001. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Sir Ralph Verney Bt". The Telegraph. London. 30 August 2001. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "No. 44908". The London Gazette. 31 July 1969. p. 7865.
- ^ "No. 46310". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 July 1947. p. 6799.
- ^ "Sir Ralph Verney Bt". The Telegraph. London. 30 August 2001. Retrieved 27 October 2015.