Veronica Linklater, Baroness Linklater of Butterstone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Baroness Linklater
of Butterstone |
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 1 November 1997 – 12 February 2016 Life peerage |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 April 1943 |
| Died | 15 December 2022 (aged 79) Dunkeld, Scotland |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
Veronica Linklater, known as Baroness Linklater of Butterstone, was a British politician. She was a member of the House of Lords. Born on April 15, 1943, she passed away on December 15, 2022. Baroness Linklater was a member of the Liberal Democrats political party. She cared deeply about children's well-being, education, and helping people with special needs. She also worked to improve prisons.
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About Baroness Linklater
Early Life and Family
Veronica Linklater was born into a family with a history in politics. Her father was Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Michael Lyle. Her mother, Hon. Elizabeth Sinclair, was the daughter of Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso. He was a former leader of the Liberal Party. Her cousin, John Sinclair, also became a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament (MP).
Veronica went to Cranborne Chase School, which was a boarding school for girls. After that, she studied at the University of Sussex and the University of London. In 1967, she married a journalist named Magnus Linklater. They had three children together: two sons and one daughter.
Helping Others
In 1967, Veronica started working as a Child Care Officer. She helped children in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. From 1970 to 1985, she served as a governor for three schools in Islington. This meant she helped manage and guide these schools.
She also had a strong interest in helping people in prison. From 1971 to 1977, she helped create the Visitors' Centre at Pentonville Prison. This center helped prisoners stay connected with their families. Her work in this area continued with the Winchester Prison Project. She also worked with the Prison Reform Trust from 1981 to 1982. She was also a trustee for the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Her Special School
In 1992, Veronica Linklater did something very special. She turned her parents' large house in Butterstone into a school. This school was called the New School. It was specifically for children with special needs. She was inspired to open this school because her own daughter, Freya, has cerebral palsy. Freya found it hard to learn in regular schools. Veronica wanted to create a place where children like Freya could get the right support.
Becoming a Peer
Veronica Linklater ran for election as a Liberal Democrat in 1995. This was in the 1995 Perth and Kinross by-election. She finished fourth in that election.
In 1997, she was given a special honor. She became a life peer. This meant she was given the title of Baroness Linklater of Butterstone. This title allowed her to become a member of the House of Lords for life. The House of Lords is part of the UK Parliament. She retired from the House of Lords in February 2016. This was due to a new law called the House of Lords Reform Act 2014.
Later Life
Baroness Linklater passed away on December 15, 2022. She was 79 years old. She died in Dunkeld, Scotland, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Arms
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Sources
- Profile, hansard.millbanksystems.com; accessed 20 March 2014.
- Biography, parliament.uk; accessed 20 March 2014.
