Robert Bellinger
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Ian Bellinger, GBE
(10 March 1910 - July 8 2002) was a British politician and Lord Mayor of London
.
Born in Gloucestershire, he was raised in Fulham, London where he attended All Saints church school. Following his father's death he started work at the age of 14 as an office boy. He studied accountancy at the Regent Street Polytechnic
before joining Kinloch, the wholesale grocery. He rose through the ranks to become chairman in 1946, a post which he held until retirement in 1975.
He joined the Worshipful Company of Broderers
in 1946, and was elected onto the Court of Common Council seven years later. An Alderman
in 1958 he became Sheriff of the City of London
in 1962 and finally Lord Mayor
(and with it, the ex officio title of Chancellor of City University
) in 1966.
He was a Governor of the BBC
, and chairman of the Panel for Civil Service Manpower Review. From 1969-85 he served as Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod
in the Order of the British Empire
.In 1970 he was named as chairman of the National Savings Committee.
He was a keen sportsman, playing for Ealing Football Club in his youth, and was president of several Buckinghamshire
sports clubs. He was also a long time director of Arsenal Football Club
from 1960 until 1996. On his retirement as a director of Arsenal he was appointed Life President, a title he held until his death in 2002.
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...
(10 March 1910 - July 8 2002) was a British politician and Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
.
Born in Gloucestershire, he was raised in Fulham, London where he attended All Saints church school. Following his father's death he started work at the age of 14 as an office boy. He studied accountancy at the Regent Street Polytechnic
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
before joining Kinloch, the wholesale grocery. He rose through the ranks to become chairman in 1946, a post which he held until retirement in 1975.
He joined the Worshipful Company of Broderers
Worshipful Company of Broderers
The Worshipful Company of Broderers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. Broderers were workers in embroidery; the organization of Broderers existed in at least 1376, and was officially incorporated by a Royal Charter in 1561. As the craft of embroidery has lost its importance as a...
in 1946, and was elected onto the Court of Common Council seven years later. An Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in 1958 he became Sheriff of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
in 1962 and finally Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
(and with it, the ex officio title of Chancellor of City University
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
) in 1966.
He was a Governor of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, and chairman of the Panel for Civil Service Manpower Review. From 1969-85 he served as Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod
Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod
The Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod is the Usher to the Order of the British Empire, established in 1917 and effective since 1918.-Office Holders from 1918:*1918 – 23 August 1952: Sir Frederic Kenyon*30 September 1952 – 2 December 1960: Sir Ernest Gowers...
in the Order of the British Empire
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...
.In 1970 he was named as chairman of the National Savings Committee.
He was a keen sportsman, playing for Ealing Football Club in his youth, and was president of several Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
sports clubs. He was also a long time director of Arsenal Football Club
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
from 1960 until 1996. On his retirement as a director of Arsenal he was appointed Life President, a title he held until his death in 2002.