William Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of Sanderstead
Encyclopedia
William Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of Sanderstead GCB
, MVO
, PC
(3 March 1915 – 12 July 1980) was a British
civil servant and banker.
The son of William Armstrong and Priscilla Hopkins, he was born in Clapton in London
. Armstrong was educated at Bec School
in Tooting
and Exeter College, Oxford
. From 1938 to 1943, Armstrong worked for the Board of Education
and from 1943 to 1945 he was private secretary to the Secretary of the War Cabinet Sir Edward Bridges. Between 1949 and 1953, he was principal private secretary to the three successive Chancellors of the Exchequer Sir R. Stafford Cripps
, Hugh Gaitskell
and then R. A. Butler.
Armstrong was Under-Secretary to the Overseas Finance Division of the Treasury from 1953 to 1957, and from 1957 to 1958 of the Home Finance Division. Between 1958 and 1962, he was Third Secretary and Treasury Officer of Accounts. In 1962, he became Permanent Secretary of the Treasury and, in 1968, Head of the Home Civil Service
. Due to his influence in Edward Heath
's government he was called the "Deputy Prime Minister
". During its dispute with the miners over the government's imposition of a Three-Day Week
, however, Armstrong suffered a nervous breakdown
. He returned to office after a period of sick leave but shortly after made known to his Second Permanent Secretary, Ian Bancroft
, that he had been approached to accept appointment as Chairman of the Midland Bank
. There was internal discussion between Bancroft, the Cabinet Secretary, and the Prime Minister as to the propriety of an official who was so close to the government's handling of economic affairs moving to the chairmanship of a clearing bank. Somewhat earlier the outgoing Chancellor of the Exchequer, Tony Barber, had taken up the chairmanship of the Standard Chartered Bank. The Prime Minister agreed that Armstrong could accept the post and he resigned from the Civil Service to do so. It is not true, as is sometimes stated, that he was replaced as head of the Civil Service.
In 1945, Armstrong was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order
(MVO). He also was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath
(CB) in 1957, a Knight Commander (KCB) in 1963 and eventually a Knight Grand Cross (GCB). He was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council in 1973. On 29 January 1975, he was created a life peer
with the title Baron Armstrong of Sanderstead, of the City of Westminster
. Armstrong died in Radcliffe Infirmary
in Oxford
.
In 1942, he married Gwendoline Enid Bennett, daughter of John Bennett.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, MVO
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...
, PC
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(3 March 1915 – 12 July 1980) 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...
civil servant and banker.
The son of William Armstrong and Priscilla Hopkins, he was born in Clapton in 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...
. Armstrong was educated at Bec School
Bec School
Bec School was a grammar school in South London.-Comprehensive:The school closed when it was amalgamated with the adjacent Hillcroft School in 1970 to create Bec-Hillcroft comprehensive school...
in Tooting
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
and Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
. From 1938 to 1943, Armstrong worked for the Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
and from 1943 to 1945 he was private secretary to the Secretary of the War Cabinet Sir Edward Bridges. Between 1949 and 1953, he was principal private secretary to the three successive Chancellors of the Exchequer Sir R. Stafford Cripps
Stafford Cripps
Sir Richard Stafford Cripps was a British Labour politician of the first half of the 20th century. During World War II he served in a number of positions in the wartime coalition, including Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Minister of Aircraft Production...
, Hugh Gaitskell
Hugh Gaitskell
Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell CBE was a British Labour politician, who held Cabinet office in Clement Attlee's governments, and was the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1955, until his death in 1963.-Early life:He was born in Kensington, London, the third and youngest...
and then R. A. Butler.
Armstrong was Under-Secretary to the Overseas Finance Division of the Treasury from 1953 to 1957, and from 1957 to 1958 of the Home Finance Division. Between 1958 and 1962, he was Third Secretary and Treasury Officer of Accounts. In 1962, he became Permanent Secretary of the Treasury and, in 1968, Head of the Home Civil Service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
. Due to his influence in Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
's government he was called the "Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a senior member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not a permanent position, existing only at the discretion of the Prime Minister, who may appoint to other offices...
". During its dispute with the miners over the government's imposition of a Three-Day Week
Three-Day Week
The Three-Day Week was one of several measures introduced in the United Kingdom by the Conservative Government 1970–1974 to conserve electricity, the production of which was severely limited due to industrial action by coal miners...
, however, Armstrong suffered a nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
. He returned to office after a period of sick leave but shortly after made known to his Second Permanent Secretary, Ian Bancroft
Ian Bancroft, Baron Bancroft
Ian Powell Bancroft, Baron Bancroft was a British senior civil servant.He was born at Barrow-in-Furness, the son of a teacher. He was educated at Sir William Turner's Grammar School, Coatham and Balliol College, Oxford, where he read English...
, that he had been approached to accept appointment as Chairman of the Midland Bank
Midland Bank
Midland Bank Plc was one of the Big Four banking groups in the United Kingdom for most of the 20th century. It is now part of HSBC. The bank was founded as the Birmingham and Midland Bank in Union Street, Birmingham, England in August 1836...
. There was internal discussion between Bancroft, the Cabinet Secretary, and the Prime Minister as to the propriety of an official who was so close to the government's handling of economic affairs moving to the chairmanship of a clearing bank. Somewhat earlier the outgoing Chancellor of the Exchequer, Tony Barber, had taken up the chairmanship of the Standard Chartered Bank. The Prime Minister agreed that Armstrong could accept the post and he resigned from the Civil Service to do so. It is not true, as is sometimes stated, that he was replaced as head of the Civil Service.
In 1945, Armstrong was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order
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...
(MVO). He also was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(CB) in 1957, a Knight Commander (KCB) in 1963 and eventually a Knight Grand Cross (GCB). He was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council in 1973. On 29 January 1975, he was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
with the title Baron Armstrong of Sanderstead, of the City of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
. Armstrong died in Radcliffe Infirmary
Radcliffe Infirmary
The Radcliffe Infirmary was a hospital in central Oxford, England, located at the southern end of Woodstock Road on the western side, backing onto Walton Street. The Radcliffe Infirmary, named after physician John Radcliffe, opened in 1770 and was Oxford's first hospital...
in 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 1942, he married Gwendoline Enid Bennett, daughter of John Bennett.
Offices held
Sources
- Obituary of Sir Edward Heath, The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, 18 July 2005.