Heather Brigstocke, Baroness Brigstocke
Encyclopedia
Heather Brigstocke, Baroness Brigstocke, CBE
(2 September 1929 – 30 April 2004) was a British
schoolteacher, academic and Conservative Life Peer.
Born as Heather Renwick Brown in Reading, Berkshire
, the daughter of Squadron Leader
John Renwick Brown, DFC
, RAF, the future Lady Brigstocke was educated at The Abbey School, Reading and Girton College, Cambridge
. In 1952 she married Geoffrey Brigstocke, a diplomat. They had four children, three sons and one daughter (David, Julian, Thomas and Persephone). Her surname was legally changed to Brigstocke in 1952.
From 1951 to 1953, she was taught classics
at Francis Holland School
. In 1962 she travelled with her husband to his post in Washington D.C., where she taught Latin
at the National Cathedral School
. In 1963, they returned to London
and Heather became the headmistress of
Francis Holland School
from 1965 to 1974 and High Mistress of St Paul's Girls' School
from 1974 to 1989.
On 21 May 1990, she was created a life peer as Baroness Brigstocke, of Kensington
in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
and sat as a Conservative
.
She was part of many educational societies during the 1990s and was the founding Chairman of Home-Start International
.
,
married fellow peer
, Hugh Griffiths, Baron Griffiths
. They were one of the few couples who both held titles in their own right.
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...
(2 September 1929 – 30 April 2004) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
schoolteacher, academic and Conservative Life Peer.
Born as Heather Renwick Brown in Reading, Berkshire
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, the daughter of Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
John Renwick Brown, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, RAF, the future Lady Brigstocke was educated at The Abbey School, Reading and Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College is one of the 31 constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. It was England's first residential women's college, established in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon. The full college status was only received in 1948 and marked the official admittance of women to the...
. In 1952 she married Geoffrey Brigstocke, a diplomat. They had four children, three sons and one daughter (David, Julian, Thomas and Persephone). Her surname was legally changed to Brigstocke in 1952.
From 1951 to 1953, she was taught classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at Francis Holland School
Francis Holland School
Francis Holland School is the name of two independent day schools for girls in central London governed by the Francis Holland Schools Trust...
. In 1962 she travelled with her husband to his post in Washington D.C., where she taught Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
at the National Cathedral School
National Cathedral School
National Cathedral School is an independent Episcopal private day school for girls located on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C...
. In 1963, they returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Heather became the headmistress of
Francis Holland School
Francis Holland School
Francis Holland School is the name of two independent day schools for girls in central London governed by the Francis Holland Schools Trust...
from 1965 to 1974 and High Mistress of St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School is a senior independent school, located in Brook Green, Hammersmith, in West London, England.-History:In 1904 a new day school for girls was established by the trustees of the Dean Colet Foundation , which had run St Paul's School for boys since the sixteenth century...
from 1974 to 1989.
On 21 May 1990, she was created a life peer as Baroness Brigstocke, of Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a central London borough of Royal borough status. After the City of Westminster, it is the wealthiest borough in England....
and sat as a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
She was part of many educational societies during the 1990s and was the founding Chairman of Home-Start International
Home-Start International
Home-Start International is a worldwide family support organization. Home-Start works with people who have parenting experience to support local parents....
.
Personal life
On 22 January 2000, Lady Brigstocke, widowed since her husband died in 1974 on Turkish Airlines Flight 981Turkish Airlines Flight 981
Turkish Airlines Flight 981 was a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, registered TC-JAV and named the Ankara, that crashed in Fontaine-Chaalis, Oise, France, outside Senlis, on 3 March 1974...
,
married fellow peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
, Hugh Griffiths, Baron Griffiths
Hugh Griffiths, Baron Griffiths
William Hugh Griffiths, Baron Griffiths, known as Hugh Griffiths, PC, QC, MC is a British judge and barrister....
. They were one of the few couples who both held titles in their own right.