Ralph Palmer, 12th Baron Lucas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Lucas
FCA
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Official portrait, 2023
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| Member of the House of Lords | |
| as a hereditary peer 21 February 1992 – 11 November 1999 |
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| Preceded by | The 11th Baroness Lucas |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| as an elected hereditary peer 11 November 1999 |
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| Election | 1999 |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ralph Matthew Palmer
7 June 1951 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater |
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Ralph Matthew Palmer, 12th Baron Lucas and 8th Lord Dingwall (born 7 June 1951), also known as Lord Lucas, is a member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom. He is one of the special group of hereditary peers who were elected to stay in the House of Lords after a law change in 1999. He represents the Conservative Party.
Lord Lucas inherited his titles in 1991. He worked as a government whip (a person who makes sure party members vote in a certain way) in the House of Lords from 1994 to 1997. Since then, he has been a "backbencher," meaning he is a regular member who does not hold a government position. He is also known for owning and publishing The Good Schools Guide since 2000.
Contents
Family Background
Lord Lucas's family has a long history. His mother, Anne Palmer, was the 11th Baroness Lucas and 7th Lady Dingwall. She inherited her titles from her own family. His grandmother was Nan Ino Cooper, the 10th Baroness Lucas.
Early Life and Education
Ralph Lucas is the son of Anne Palmer and Major Robert Jocelyn Palmer. He went to Twyford School and then Eton College, which are both well-known schools in the UK.
In 1969, before going to university, he traveled across Afghanistan and Iran. During this trip, he helped collect plants for famous gardens like Kew Gardens. After this adventure, he studied physics at Balliol College, Oxford, which is part of the University of Oxford.
Career and Public Service
After university, Ralph Lucas trained to become a chartered accountant. He worked for several financial firms, including S. G. Warburg & Co. Ltd.
Role in the House of Lords
When his mother passed away in 1991, he became the 12th Baron Lucas and 8th Lord Dingwall. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords. From 1994 to 1997, he served as a Lord in Waiting, which is a government whip in the House of Lords. He also worked as a shadow minister for International Development from 1997 to 1998.
As a backbencher, he is very active in the House of Lords. He is especially interested in topics like education, personal freedoms, digital government, town planning, finance, and parking rules.
Work with The Good Schools Guide
In 1995, Ralph Lucas married Amanda Atha, who had helped start The Good Schools Guide. After her passing in 2000, he took over as the owner, publisher, and editor of the guide. In 2006, he expanded the guide to include international schools outside the UK.
As editor, Ralph Lucas has often pointed out how much state schools (public schools) and Special Education Needs schools have improved. In 1986, the guide listed only a few state schools. By 2016, over 300 state schools were reviewed, making up a quarter of all schools in the guide. In 2019, nearly 400 of the 1,297 schools reviewed were state schools, and 140 were schools for students with special educational needs.
Lord Lucas believes that many private preparatory schools are struggling because state primary schools are getting much better. He has also warned about the dangers of unqualified tutors for young children and the rising costs of independent schools.
Other Contributions
Lord Lucas continues to be very involved in the House of Lords. He has served on committees that looked into important issues like digital skills, improving seaside towns, and how digital technology affects democracy. He also leads the Enforcement Law Reform Group.
He played a key role in adding a special rule to the Compensation Act 2006, which became known as the "Lucas amendment." This rule means that if someone apologizes or offers help after an accident, it doesn't automatically mean they are admitting they were at fault. This helps people apologize without worrying about legal problems.
He met his third wife, Antonia Rubenstein, while working with Safe Ground, a charity that helps with prison reform. He helped set up projects to support family relationships for prisoners.
Lord Lucas has also helped connect The Eden Project (a famous botanical garden) with the town of Eastbourne. With Lady Lucas, he started the "Making Natural History" project, which uses creative works to raise awareness about environmental issues.
He became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA) in 1986. He is also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, which is an old and respected organization in London.
In 2004, he was a contestant on the TV show University Challenge as part of the House of Lords team.
Family Life
Lord Lucas has been married three times. His first marriage was to Clarissa Marie Lockett in 1978. They had two children before divorcing in 1995.
In 1995, he married Amanda Atha, who passed away in 2000. In 2001, he married Antonia Kennedy Rubinstein, and they have one daughter together.
