Christopher James, 5th Baron Northbourne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Northbourne
DL FRICS
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Northbourne in Parliament, 2016
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| Member of the House of Lords | |
| as a hereditary peer 5 November 1982 – 11 November 1999 |
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| Preceded by | The 4th Baron Northbourne |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| as an elected hereditary peer 11 November 1999 – 4 September 2018 |
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| Election | 1999 |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | The 7th Baron Carrington |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Christopher George Walter James
18 February 1926 |
| Died | 8 September 2019 (aged 93) Northbourne, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent | Walter James, 4th Baron Northbourne |
| Education | Eton College |
| Alma mater | Magdalen College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Farmer, businessman, and peer |
Christopher George Walter James (born February 18, 1926 – died September 8, 2019) was a British farmer and a member of the nobility. He was known as the 5th Baron Northbourne. He was one of the special group of 90 hereditary peers who were chosen to stay in the House of Lords after a big change in 1999. He worked there until he retired in 2018.
Contents
About Lord Northbourne
Christopher George Walter James was born in 1926. His father was Walter James, the 4th Baron Northbourne. His mother was Katharine Louise Nickerson from Boston, USA.
Education and Early Life
Christopher went to Eton College, a famous school in Berkshire, England. Later, he studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, a well-known university. He earned a Master of Arts degree in 1959.
In 1982, when his father passed away, Christopher became the 5th Baron Northbourne. This meant he inherited his father's title and became a member of the House of Lords.
Role in Parliament
The House of Lords is part of the UK Parliament. It helps make laws for the country. Lord Northbourne was a "crossbencher," which means he didn't belong to any specific political party. He worked independently.
He was especially interested in helping families and children. He served as the spokesperson for these topics in the House of Lords.
Other Work and Interests
Lord Northbourne was involved in many different organizations. He was the deputy chairman of Toynbee Hall, which is a charity that helps people in East London. He also chaired Betteshanger Farms Ltd until 1997.
From 1999, he led the Parenting Support Forum, which helps parents. He was also a governor at Wye College. Since 2002, he chaired the Stepney Children's Fund, another group helping children.
He was a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS). These titles show his important roles and professional skills.
Retirement and Legacy
Lord Northbourne retired from the House of Lords on September 4, 2018. He passed away on September 8, 2019, at the age of 93.
He had a beautiful garden at Northbourne Court in Kent, England. It was known as one of the finest gardens in the country. It was cared for over a hundred years. This special garden was not usually open to the public.
Family Life
On July 18, 1959, Christopher George Walter James married Aliky Louise Hélène Marie-Sygne Claudel. Her grandfather was a famous French writer named Paul Claudel.
Lord and Lady Northbourne had four children:
- Charles Walter Henri James, born on June 14, 1960. He later became the 6th Baron Northbourne. He married Catherine Lucy Burrows in 1987. They have three children:
- Henry Christopher William James (born 1988), who is the next in line to the title.
- Anastasia Aliki James (born 1992).
- Alexander Oliver Charles James (born 1996).
- Hon. Anthony Christopher Walter Paul James, born on January 14, 1963. He is married and has two children.
- Hon. Sebastian Richard Edward Cuthbert James, born on March 11, 1966. He married Anna Katherine Gregory in 1997. They have three sons and one daughter.
- Hon. Ophelia Mary Katherine Christine Aliki James, born on August 23, 1969. She married Jocelyn Charles Stewart Hoare. They have two children.
