Bertram Bowyer, 2nd Baron Denham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Denham
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Portrait by Walter Bird, 1963
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| In office 4 May 1979 – 22 May 1991 |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | The Baroness Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Hesketh |
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| In office 20 November 1971 – 11 March 1974 |
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| Prime Minister | Edward Heath |
| Preceded by | The Viscount Goschen |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Strabolgi |
| Lord-in-waiting | |
| In office 24 June 1970 – 20 November 1971 |
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| Prime Minister | Edward Heath |
| Preceded by | The Lord Hilton of Upton |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Bethell |
| In office 27 June 1961 – 16 October 1964 |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | The Earl Jellicoe |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Hobson of Brent |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| as a hereditary peer 9 December 1949 – 11 November 1999 |
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| Preceded by | The 1st Baron Denham |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| as an elected hereditary peer 11 November 1999 – 26 April 2021 |
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| Election | 1999 |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | The 8th Earl of Leicester |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bertram Stanley Mitford Bowyer
3 October 1927 |
| Died | 1 December 2021 (aged 94) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Alma mater | King's College, Cambridge |
Bertram Stanley Mitford Bowyer, 2nd Baron Denham (born October 3, 1927 – died December 1, 2021) was a British politician and writer. He was a member of the Conservative Party. He also held a special title as a hereditary peer. This meant his family title passed down to him. Lord Denham was one of the few people to work in the governments of five different prime ministers.
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Life and Political Career
Lord Denham went to Eton and then to King's College, Cambridge university. He was the youngest child in his family. When his father passed away in 1948, Bertram became the 2nd Baron Denham. His older brother had sadly died in the Second World War.
Early Roles in Government
Lord Denham started his political career in the House of Lords. This is the upper house of the UK Parliament. From 1961 to 1964, he served as a whip. A whip is like a team leader who makes sure members of their political party vote in a certain way. He worked under Prime Ministers Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home.
When the Conservative Party won the election in 1970, he became a whip again. This time he worked for Prime Minister Edward Heath. In 1972, he was promoted to a more important role. He became the Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard. This job meant he was the Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords. He held this position until 1974.
Chief Whip and Later Years
In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister. Lord Denham was then made the Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms. This was the top job for a government whip in the House of Lords. He kept this important role throughout all of Margaret Thatcher's time as Prime Minister. He left the job in 1991, a few months after John Major became Prime Minister.
For his service, he received special honours. In 1981, he became a Privy Councillor. This is a group of senior advisors to the King or Queen. In 1991, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).
Changes to the House of Lords
In 1999, a new law called the House of Lords Act 1999 changed things. Most hereditary peers, like Lord Denham, lost their automatic right to sit in the House of Lords. However, Lord Denham was one of 92 hereditary peers who were elected to stay. They remained members while further changes to the House of Lords were planned.
After another member, Lord Carrington, passed away in 2018, Lord Denham became the longest-serving member of the House of Lords. He retired from the House on April 26, 2021, after serving for 71 years. He passed away later that year, on December 1, 2021, at the age of 94.
Literary Career
Besides his political work, Bertram Bowyer was also a writer. He wrote mystery novels under the name Bertie Denham. His books featured a detective character named Derek Thyrde, who was also a Conservative Whip in the House of Lords. He was also a member of the Detection Club, a group of famous mystery writers.
Novels by Bertie Denham
- The Man Who Lost His Shadow (1979)
- Two Thyrdes (1983)
- Foxhunt (1988)
- Black Rod (1997)
Images for kids
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A coronet, a type of crown worn by a baron.
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The coat of arms associated with the Denham family.
