John Colville, 4th Viscount Colville of Culross
Encyclopedia
John Mark Alexander Colville, 4th Viscount Colville of Culross QC
(19 July 1933 – 8 April 2010) was a British
judge and politician. He was one of the 92 hereditary peer
s elected to remain in the House of Lords
after the House of Lords Act 1999
.
The son of the 3rd Viscount Colville of Culross, he succeeded to his father's title in 1945, at the age of twelve. He was educated at Rugby School
and New College, Oxford
, where he graduated a with a Bachelor of Arts
in law in 1957, and with a Master of Arts
in 1963.
Colville served in the Grenadier Guards
reaching the rank of Lieutenant. Called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn
in 1960, he became a Queen's Counsel
in 1978 and a Bencher
in 1986. Between 1980 and 1983, he was the Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN Commission on Human Rights, and between 1983 and 1987 Special Rapporteur on Guatemala
as well as chair of the Mental Health Act Commission
. He was chairman of the Parole Board for England and Wales
from 1988 to 1992, Recorder
from 1990 to 1993 and Judge of the South Eastern Circuit from 1993 to 1999. From 1996 to 2000, he was a member of the UN Human Rights Committee and is Assistant Surveillance Commissioner since 2001.
Colville was married twice, firstly Mary Elizabeth Webb-Bowen in 1958, and after being divorced in 1973, he married Margaret Colville, Viscountess Colville of Culross
in the following year. He had four sons, including his heir Charles, by his first wife, and one son by his second wife.
His funeral was held at St Nicholas' Church, West Lexham
.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(19 July 1933 – 8 April 2010) 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...
judge and politician. He was one of the 92 hereditary peer
Hereditary peer
Hereditary peers form part of the Peerage in the United Kingdom. There are over seven hundred peers who hold titles that may be inherited. Formerly, most of them were entitled to sit in the House of Lords, but since the House of Lords Act 1999 only ninety-two are permitted to do so...
s elected to remain in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
after the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
.
The son of the 3rd Viscount Colville of Culross, he succeeded to his father's title in 1945, at the age of twelve. He was educated at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
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 graduated a with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in law in 1957, and with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
in 1963.
Colville served in the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
reaching the rank of Lieutenant. Called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1960, he became a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1978 and a Bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
in 1986. Between 1980 and 1983, he was the Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN Commission on Human Rights, and between 1983 and 1987 Special Rapporteur on Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
as well as chair of the Mental Health Act Commission
Mental Health Act Commission
The Mental Health Act Commission was an NHS special health authority that provided a safeguard for people detained in hospital under the powers of the Mental Health Act 1983 in England and Wales...
. He was chairman of the Parole Board for England and Wales
Parole Board
A parole board is a panel of people who decide whether an offender should be released from prison on parole after serving at least a minimum portion of their sentence as prescribed by the sentencing judge. Parole boards are used in many jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the United...
from 1988 to 1992, Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
from 1990 to 1993 and Judge of the South Eastern Circuit from 1993 to 1999. From 1996 to 2000, he was a member of the UN Human Rights Committee and is Assistant Surveillance Commissioner since 2001.
Colville was married twice, firstly Mary Elizabeth Webb-Bowen in 1958, and after being divorced in 1973, he married Margaret Colville, Viscountess Colville of Culross
Margaret Colville, Viscountess Colville of Culross
Margaret Birgitta Colville, Viscountess Colville of Culross JP is the wife of John Colville, 4th Viscount Colville of Culross.She was born Margaret Birgitta Norton, the daughter of Major-General Cyril Henry Norton, and was educated at King's College London where she graduated with an LLB...
in the following year. He had four sons, including his heir Charles, by his first wife, and one son by his second wife.
His funeral was held at St Nicholas' Church, West Lexham
West Lexham
West Lexham is a village in the English county of Norfolk. It is north of the town of Swaffham, west north west of Norwich and north east of London.The village forms part of the civil parish of Lexham, which in turn is part of the district of Breckland...
.