Anthony Lester, Baron Lester of Herne Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill
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Lord Lester of Herne Hill's official parliamentary photo
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 13 October 1993 – 12 December 2018 Life Peerage |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 July 1936 |
| Died | 8 August 2020 (aged 84) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour (until 1981) SDP (1981–1988) Liberal Democrats (1988–2018) Change UK (2019) |
| Occupation | Politician, lawyer |
Anthony Paul Lester, also known as Baron Lester of Herne Hill, QC (3 July 1936 – 8 August 2020), was a British lawyer who worked as a barrister (a type of lawyer who argues cases in court). He was also a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.
Lester was a member of different political parties throughout his life, including the Labour Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the Liberal Democrats. He was well-known for helping to create laws about race relations (how different racial groups get along) in the United Kingdom. He also helped start important groups like the Institute of Race Relations, the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination, and the Runnymede Trust. Lord Lester resigned from the House of Lords in 2018, stating he lacked the strength and health to continue.
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Early Life and Education
Anthony Lester was born in 1936. He went to the City of London School for his early education.
After school, he studied history and law at Trinity College, Cambridge, a famous university in England. He then continued his law studies at Harvard Law School in the United States. He earned degrees in both subjects.
Legal Career
Anthony Lester became a barrister in 1963, which means he was officially allowed to argue cases in court. In 1975, he became a Queen's Counsel (QC), a special title for experienced barristers.
From 1987 to 1993, he worked as a recorder, which is a part-time judge. He worked as a barrister at a well-known law firm called Blackstone Chambers. In 2005, he also became a professor of law at University College Cork.
Working for Race Equality
In the 1960s and 1970s, Lester played a big role in writing laws about race relations in Britain. He led the legal team for the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination (C.A.R.D.). This group worked to make sure everyone was treated fairly, no matter their race.
He was also part of other groups that worked for racial equality. In 1968, he helped start the Runnymede Trust, which is a "think-tank" that researches and suggests ideas about race equality. He was the chairman of this trust from 1991 to 1993.
Special Adviser Role
In the 1970s, Anthony Lester was a special adviser to Roy Jenkins, who was a government minister. He later joined Jenkins in starting the Social Democratic Party in 1981.
In 2007, he was asked by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to be a special adviser on constitutional reform. This means he gave advice on how to improve the UK's laws and government system. He was also a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, which looks at human rights issues.
Becoming a Peer
Anthony Lester was given a peerage on 13 August 1993. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords for life. He was given the title Baron Lester of Herne Hill, named after Herne Hill in London. He officially joined the House of Lords on 13 October 1993.
He resigned from the House of Lords on 12 December 2018. He said he did not have the strength or health to continue his work there. In April 2019, he joined a new political group called The Independent Group.
Honours
In 2003, Anthony Lester was chosen as an international member of the American Philosophical Society. This is a very old and respected group that promotes useful knowledge.
Personal Life
Lord Lester of Herne Hill had two children: Gideon Lester and Maya Lester KC.
He passed away on 8 August 2020, at the age of 84.
See Also
- Geoffrey Bindman
- Richard Stone (campaigner)
- Jim Rose (journalist)
Images for kids
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Lord Lester of Herne Hill's official parliamentary photo
