Folliott Sandford
Encyclopedia
Sir Folliott Herbert Sandford KBE
CMG (28 October 1906 – 5 July 1986) was a British civil servant and Registrar of the University of Oxford
from 1958 to 1972.
and New College, Oxford
, where he obtained first-class degrees in Classics and in Law. He joined the Air Ministry
as a civil servant in 1930, working as Principal Private Secretary
to four Secretaries of State for Air
between 1937 and 1940: Viscount Swinton, Sir Kingsley Wood
, Sir Samuel Hoare and Sir Archibald Sinclair. In 1941 and 1942, he was attached to RAF Ferry Command
in Montreal
, Canada; from 1942 to 1944, he was the secretary to the office of the Resident Minister for West Africa. He returned to the Air Ministry in 1944, rising from Assistant Under-Secretary of State to become Deputy Under-Secretary of State from 1947 to 1958. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1949. He became a Fellow of New College on his appointment as Registrar of the University of Oxford
in 1958, succeeding Sir Douglas Veale
, and held both positions until retiring in 1972. On his retirement, he was appointed an Honorary Fellow of New College and Wolfson College
, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university. He was Master of the Skinners' Company from 1975 to 1976. He was twice married: to Gwendoline (née Masters) from 1935 until her death in 1977, and then to Peggy Young (née Odgear) from 1982 until her death in 1984. Sandford died on 5 July 1986. The historian Brian Harrison
describes him as "unobtrusively providing expertise and continuity" and a hard worker, but one who "lacked Veale's vision and sense of proportion" and who suffered from having to try to match the standards set for the role by Veale.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
CMG (28 October 1906 – 5 July 1986) was a British civil servant and Registrar of the University of Oxford
Registrar of the University of Oxford
The Registrar of the University of Oxford is one of the senior officials of the university. According to its statutes, the Registrar acts as the "head of the central administrative services", with responsibility for "the management and professional development of their staff and for the development...
from 1958 to 1972.
Life and career
Folliott Herbert Sandford, the son of a barrister, was born on 28 October 1906. He was educated at Winchester CollegeWinchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, where he obtained first-class degrees in Classics and in Law. He joined the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
as a civil servant in 1930, working as Principal Private Secretary
Principal Private Secretary
In the British Civil Service and Australian Public Service the Principal Private Secretary is the civil servant who runs a cabinet minister's private office...
to four Secretaries of State for Air
Secretary of State for Air
The Secretary of State for Air was a cabinet level British position. The person holding this position was in charge of the Air Ministry. It was created on 10 January 1919 to manage the Royal Air Force...
between 1937 and 1940: Viscount Swinton, Sir Kingsley Wood
Kingsley Wood
Sir Howard Kingsley Wood was an English Conservative politician. The son of a Wesleyan Methodist minister, he qualified as a solicitor, and successfully specialised in industrial insurance...
, Sir Samuel Hoare and Sir Archibald Sinclair. In 1941 and 1942, he was attached to RAF Ferry Command
RAF Ferry Command
The RAF Ferry Command had a short life, but it spawned, in part, an organisation that lasted well beyond the war years during which it was formed.-History:...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada; from 1942 to 1944, he was the secretary to the office of the Resident Minister for West Africa. He returned to the Air Ministry in 1944, rising from Assistant Under-Secretary of State to become Deputy Under-Secretary of State from 1947 to 1958. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1949. He became a Fellow of New College on his appointment as Registrar of the University of Oxford
Registrar of the University of Oxford
The Registrar of the University of Oxford is one of the senior officials of the university. According to its statutes, the Registrar acts as the "head of the central administrative services", with responsibility for "the management and professional development of their staff and for the development...
in 1958, succeeding Sir Douglas Veale
Douglas Veale
Sir Douglas Veale was a British civil servant and university administrator, who served as Registrar of the University of Oxford from 1930 to 1958.-Life:...
, and held both positions until retiring in 1972. On his retirement, he was appointed an Honorary Fellow of New College and Wolfson College
Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university. He was Master of the Skinners' Company from 1975 to 1976. He was twice married: to Gwendoline (née Masters) from 1935 until her death in 1977, and then to Peggy Young (née Odgear) from 1982 until her death in 1984. Sandford died on 5 July 1986. The historian Brian Harrison
Brian Harrison (historian)
Professor Sir Brian Howard Harrison was the editor of Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, published by Oxford University Press, from January 2000 to September 2004 and Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford...
describes him as "unobtrusively providing expertise and continuity" and a hard worker, but one who "lacked Veale's vision and sense of proportion" and who suffered from having to try to match the standards set for the role by Veale.