Michael Rowntree
Encyclopedia
Michael Rowntree was a co-founder of the Friends' Ambulance Unit
in the Second World War, a journalist
, and Chairman of Oxfam
for 6 years.
Rowntree was born in Roundhay
, Leeds
, England
, the son of Arnold Rowntree and a nephew of Joseph Rowntree
. He was related to the prominent Rowntree
and Harvey
Quaker families. He was educated at Earnseat School in Arnside
and Bootham School
, the Quaker school in York, where he became head boy. He read PPE
at Queen's College, Oxford for two years, but the Second World War
intervened. A conscientious objector
, he helped Paul Cadbury and Michael Barratt Brown to re-establish the Friends Ambulance Unit. He worked in Finland in 1940, then in Cairo, and became his FAU unit's leader in North Africa and then into Italy. He later co-ordinated the work of all FAU units in Germany.
After the war, he became a journalist at the Northern Echo in Darlington
, and moved to Oxford
in 1950 to become assistant general manager at the Oxford Mail
and the Oxford Times. He was promoted one year later to general manager. He resigned in 1967 to concentrate on his other responsibilities, although he remained a director.
He was a director of the Friends Provident
and Century Life insurance company from 1956 to 1973, and of the Friends Provident Life Office from 1973 to 1975.
He worked with Oxfam
for 60 years, beginning in 1947. He became a committee member in 1951 and a trustee in 1952, and was chairman from 1971 to 1977. He became Chair Emeritus in 1991, one of only two honoured with that position. He also was a trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
and the Joseph Rowntree Social Service Trust, now the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust.
He served as vice-chairman of the Oxford Area Health Authority.
He enjoyed walking in the North York Moors
, and was a keen birdwatcher
. He retired to Yorkshire in 1981. He was survived by his wife, Anna Crosfield, a textiles artist, and their two daughters and a son.
Friends' Ambulance Unit
The Friends' Ambulance Unit was a volunteer ambulance service, founded by individual members of the British Religious Society of Friends , in line with their Peace Testimony. The FAU operated from 1914–1919, 1939–1946 and 1946-1959 in 25 different countries around the world...
in the Second World War, a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, and Chairman of Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
for 6 years.
Rowntree was born in Roundhay
Roundhay
Roundhay is a large suburb and City Council ward of north-east Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, largely within the LS8 postcode. The ward boundary is the A6120 ring road on the north and the A58 Wetherby Road on the south and east. The boundary follows Gledhow Valley Road to the west before heading...
, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of Arnold Rowntree and a nephew of Joseph Rowntree
Joseph Rowntree (philanthropist)
Joseph Rowntree was a Quaker philanthropist and businessman from York, England. Rowntree is perhaps best known for being a champion of social reform and his time as a chocolatier at family business Rowntree's, one of the most important in Britain...
. He was related to the prominent Rowntree
Rowntree
-Companies:*Rowntree's, the confectionery company owned in the 19th & 20th centuries in York by members of the Rowntree family**Directors and employees of this company***Oliver Sheldon *Rowntree trusts**Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust...
and Harvey
Harvey
- People :* Harvey , a given name and family name* William Harvey, 16th century physician, first to describe circulation of blood- Places :In the United States* Harvey, Illinois* Harvey, Iowa* Harvey, Louisiana* Harvey, Michigan* Harvey, North Dakota...
Quaker families. He was educated at Earnseat School in Arnside
Arnside
Arnside is a village and civil parish in Cumbria, England. It faces the estuary of the River Kent on the north eastern corner of Morecambe Bay, within the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
and Bootham School
Bootham School
Bootham School is an independent Quaker boarding school in the city of York in North Yorkshire, England. It was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1823. It is close to York Minster. The current headmaster is Jonathan Taylor. The school's motto Membra Sumus Corporis Magni means "We...
, the Quaker school in York, where he became head boy. He read PPE
PPE
PPE may stand for:*Palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome*Park Place Entertainment, now part of Caesar's Entertainment*Personal protective equipment*Philosophy, Politics and Economics, an academic degree*Polyphenyl ether...
at Queen's College, Oxford for two years, but the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
intervened. A conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, he helped Paul Cadbury and Michael Barratt Brown to re-establish the Friends Ambulance Unit. He worked in Finland in 1940, then in Cairo, and became his FAU unit's leader in North Africa and then into Italy. He later co-ordinated the work of all FAU units in Germany.
After the war, he became a journalist at the Northern Echo in Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
, and moved to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1950 to become assistant general manager at the Oxford Mail
Oxford Mail
Oxford Mail is a daily tabloid newspaper in Oxford, England owned by Newsquest. It is published six days a week. It is a sister paper to the weekly tabloid The Oxford Times.-History:...
and the Oxford Times. He was promoted one year later to general manager. He resigned in 1967 to concentrate on his other responsibilities, although he remained a director.
He was a director of the Friends Provident
Friends Provident
Friends Provident was an organisation offering life insurance based in the United Kingdom. It was founded as a mutual Friendly Society for Quakers, although it was demutualised in 2001 and became a publicly listed company, no longer linked with the Religious Society of Friends...
and Century Life insurance company from 1956 to 1973, and of the Friends Provident Life Office from 1973 to 1975.
He worked with Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
for 60 years, beginning in 1947. He became a committee member in 1951 and a trustee in 1952, and was chairman from 1971 to 1977. He became Chair Emeritus in 1991, one of only two honoured with that position. He also was a trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust is a philanthropic left-of-centre trust that chiefly supports work undertaken in the UK, Ireland and South Africa...
and the Joseph Rowntree Social Service Trust, now the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust.
He served as vice-chairman of the Oxford Area Health Authority.
He enjoyed walking in the North York Moors
North York Moors
The North York Moors is a national park in North Yorkshire, England. The moors are one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. It covers an area of , and it has a population of about 25,000...
, and was a keen birdwatcher
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
. He retired to Yorkshire in 1981. He was survived by his wife, Anna Crosfield, a textiles artist, and their two daughters and a son.