John Buchanan-Riddell
Encyclopedia
Sir John Charles Buchanan Riddell, 13th Baronet, KCVO
, FRSA (3 January 1934 – 24 July 2010) was Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales from 1985 to 1990. He was Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland
from 2000 to 2009.
Riddell was born at Hepple
, Northumberland
. He succeeded to the Baronetcy of Riddell of Riddell
as an infant, on the death of his father
in 1934.
The family seat at Whitefield House, Hepple was bought by his ancestor Sir John Buchanan Riddell (1796–1822) from the Duke of Portland in 1804.
Riddell was educated at Eton College
and Christ Church, Oxford
, and
served briefly as a Second Lieutenant
in the King's Royal Rifle Corps
(1952–54) before qualifying as a chartered accountant
.
In 1969 he married Sarah, daughter of Baron Richardson of Duntisbourne, who bore him three sons between 1974 and 1982.
Riddell worked with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
in Washington
from 1969 to 1971. He was associate director of First Boston Corp from 1972 to 1975, and director of First Boston (Europe) Ltd from 1975 to 1978. From 1978 to 1985 he was director of CS First Boston, to which he returned as deputy chairman from 1990 to 1995.
Sir John held other directorships, including of the Northumbrian Water Group (1992–?) and the Northern Rock Building Society (1981–1985 and 2000–2004) (deputy chairman from 1992). He was trustee of The Frank Buttle Trust
from 1981 to 1987, a member of the Bloomsbury
District Health Authority from 1982 to 1985, and deputy chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority
(IBA) from 1981 to 1985. He became an executive director of MC Securities Ltd in 1995.
He was appointed Private Secretary to the Prince and Princess of Wales in September 1985, and resigned on 31 May 1990. He was also Treasurer
to the Prince and Princess of Wales from 1986 to 1990, and member of the Prince's Council from 1985 to 1989.
He was an Extra Equerry
from 1990 until his death.
Riddell was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1990 on his retirement as Private Secretary. He was made a Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John
in 2002. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant
of Northumberland in 1990 and became Lord Lieutenant in 1990, stepping down in 2009. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) from 1990. He was promoted Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2009 New Year Honours.
Riddell died on 24 July 2010, at Rothbury
Community Hospital, Northumberland, aged 76. His eldest son Walter John Buchanan Riddell inherited the baronetcy.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, FRSA (3 January 1934 – 24 July 2010) was Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales from 1985 to 1990. He was Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland
Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland
This is a list of people who have served as Lord-Lieutenant of Northumberland. Since 1802, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Northumberland.*Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland*Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland ?–1489...
from 2000 to 2009.
Riddell was born at Hepple
Hepple
Hepple is a small village and parish in rural Northumberland, west of Rothbury, which provides most of its local services. It is on the edge of the Northumberland National Park, and lies on the bank of the river Coquet, at a location which was on the Coquet Stop Line, of which a pillbox remains...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. He succeeded to the Baronetcy of Riddell of Riddell
Riddell Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for people with the surname Riddell, one in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom....
as an infant, on the death of his father
Sir Walter Riddell, 12th Baronet
Sir Walter Robert Buchanan-Riddell, 12th Baronet was a British academic. He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford. He was Principal of Hertford College, Oxford between 1922 and 1929. He succeeded his father as 12th Baronet in the line of Riddell Baronets in 1924...
in 1934.
The family seat at Whitefield House, Hepple was bought by his ancestor Sir John Buchanan Riddell (1796–1822) from the Duke of Portland in 1804.
Riddell was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, and
served briefly as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
(1952–54) before qualifying as a chartered accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
.
In 1969 he married Sarah, daughter of Baron Richardson of Duntisbourne, who bore him three sons between 1974 and 1982.
Riddell worked with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is one of five institutions that compose the World Bank Group. The IBRD is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by World War II. Now, its mission has expanded to fight...
in Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1969 to 1971. He was associate director of First Boston Corp from 1972 to 1975, and director of First Boston (Europe) Ltd from 1975 to 1978. From 1978 to 1985 he was director of CS First Boston, to which he returned as deputy chairman from 1990 to 1995.
Sir John held other directorships, including of the Northumbrian Water Group (1992–?) and the Northern Rock Building Society (1981–1985 and 2000–2004) (deputy chairman from 1992). He was trustee of The Frank Buttle Trust
The Frank Buttle Trust
Buttle UK, formerly known as The Frank Buttle Trust, is the largest UK charity providing grant aid solely to individual children and young people in desperate need. Founded in 1937 and operational since 1953, the charity has helped many thousands of vulnerable children, young people and families...
from 1981 to 1987, a member of the Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
District Health Authority from 1982 to 1985, and deputy chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority
Independent Broadcasting Authority
The Independent Broadcasting Authority was the regulatory body in the United Kingdom for commercial television - and commercial/independent radio broadcasts...
(IBA) from 1981 to 1985. He became an executive director of MC Securities Ltd in 1995.
He was appointed Private Secretary to the Prince and Princess of Wales in September 1985, and resigned on 31 May 1990. He was also Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
to the Prince and Princess of Wales from 1986 to 1990, and member of the Prince's Council from 1985 to 1989.
He was an Extra Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
from 1990 until his death.
Riddell was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1990 on his retirement as Private Secretary. He was made a Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
in 2002. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Northumberland in 1990 and became Lord Lieutenant in 1990, stepping down in 2009. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) from 1990. He was promoted Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2009 New Year Honours.
Riddell died on 24 July 2010, at Rothbury
Rothbury
Rothbury is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England. It is located on the River Coquet, northwest of Morpeth and north-northwest of Newcastle upon Tyne...
Community Hospital, Northumberland, aged 76. His eldest son Walter John Buchanan Riddell inherited the baronetcy.