Simon Boyle facts for kids
Sir Simon Hugh Patrick Boyle (born March 22, 1941 – died September 4, 2020) was an important British business leader. He was also the Lord Lieutenant of Gwent from 2001 to 2016. A Lord Lieutenant is the King or Queen's personal representative in a county. Sir Simon received a special honor called the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO). He was also a Justice of the Peace (JP), meaning he helped with local legal matters, and a Deputy Lieutenant (DL), assisting the Lord Lieutenant.
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Early Life and Family
Simon Boyle was born on March 22, 1941. He was the second son of Patrick John Salvin Boyle, who was a Lieutenant-Colonel. His mother was Mary Elizabeth Fleetwood Fuller. Simon's father, Patrick, was an aide-de-camp (a personal assistant) to the Governor General of Canada in the 1930s. Sadly, his father was killed in action during the Second World War.
In 1948, Simon's mother married Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Murray Floyd. Charles Floyd was a chairman of a company called Avon India Rubber.
Education and Career
Simon Boyle went to a famous school called Eton College. After school, he started his career in business. From 1959 to 1965, he worked for a company called Stewarts & Lloyds in both Australia and the United Kingdom.
In 1966, he joined the Avon Rubber Company. Later, in 1970, he moved to work for British Steel. He stayed with British Steel until he retired in 2001. Most of his time there was spent at the Llanwern steelworks in Gwent.
Public Service and Honors
Simon Boyle was very involved in public service. In 1993, he became the High Sheriff of Gwent. The High Sheriff is a ceremonial role, representing the King or Queen in the county.
In 1997, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Gwent. Then, in 2001, he became the Lord Lieutenant of Gwent, a role he held until 2016. This was a very important position, as he was the King or Queen's official representative in the county.
In 2002, he was also made a Justice of the Peace and a Companion of the Order of St John. The Order of St John is a charity that helps people.
From 2003 to 2005, he was the Chairman of the Gwent Criminal Justice Board. He also served as President of the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations from 2006 to 2016. In 2015, Simon Boyle received the high honor of being appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO). This special award is given by the monarch for personal service.
Family Life
In 1970, Simon Boyle married Catriona Gordon. They had four daughters:
- Alice Catriona Jane (born 1972)
- Mary Helen Fenella (born 1974)
- Susannah Elizabeth (born 1977)
- Christian Laura Frances (born 1982)
Sir Simon also had eight grandchildren.
Later Years
Sir Simon Boyle passed away on September 4, 2020, at the age of 79.
