Geoffrey Finsberg

Geoffrey Finsberg, Baron Finsberg, MBE, JP (13 June 1926—8 October 1996) was a British Conservative politician.

Early life

Finsberg was educated at the City of London School and was a 'Bevin Boy' 1945-47.

Political activity

From a young age he was active in the Conservative Party and was founder chairman of Mansfield Young Conservatives 1946-47. He served as National Chairman of the Young Conservatives, 1954–57 and took senior rules in the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations, 1953–79 and the Greater London Area of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations. He was Vice-Chairman, Conservative Party Organisation, 1975–79 and 1983–87.

Finsberg was elected a Borough Councillor in Hampstead in 1949 at just 22 years old, until 1965, and on the new London Borough of Camden 1964-74, serving as Leader, 1968-70. He was Deputy Chairman, 1969–1971, and Vice-President of the Association of Municipal Corporations, 1971-74. He stood for Parliament in Islington East in 1955 without success. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1959 New Year Honours.^[1]

Parliamentary career

In 1970, Finsberg was elected Member of Parliament for Hampstead, serving 1970 to 1983, then for Hampstead and Highgate 1983 to 1992. He acted as Opposition spokesman on Greater London, 1974–79; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, 1979–81, and Department of Health and Social Security, 1981-83. He was President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1991 to 1992. He was knighted in the 1984 New Year Honours.^[2]

He retired from Parliament at the 1992 general election, at which his seat was taken by Labour's Glenda Jackson, defeating Oliver Letwin. He was created a life peer in 1992 as Baron Finsberg, of Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden.^[3]

Outside Parliament

Finsberg was also active in business and charities: he was Controller of Personnel and Chief Industrial Relations Adviser at Great Universal Stores, 1968–79; Member, 1983–1986, and Deputy Chairman, South East Regional Board, TSB, 1986–89; Member, Post Office Users National Council, 1970–77; Member of the Council, Confederation of British Industry, 1968–79. He was Joint National Treasurer, 1993–1995, and Joint National Honorary Secretary, Council of Christians and Jews; Patron, Maccabi Association of Great Britain; Trustee, Marie Curie Cancer Foundation; a JP for Inner London from 1962.

Arms

Arms of Geoffrey Finsberg

Coronet A Coronet of a Baron Crest In a Circlet Or fretty Gules a Demi Stag Argent attired and unguled Or gorged with a Chaplet of Holly proper and holding between the forelegs a Miner's Lamp Or Escutcheon Azure on a Cross quarterly Argent and Gules between twelve Mullets in circle three three three and three Or a Sword erect in pale point upwards also Or and four Fleurs-de-lys Or Supporters Dexter: a Black Cat; Sinister: a Dalmatian Dog, the whole upon a Compartment comprising a Grassy Mount extending on each side into a Hillock all proper Motto Non Sibi Sed Toti

References

1. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41589. p. 16. 1 January 1959.
2. The London Gazette: no. 49696. p. 4829. 3 April 1984.
3. The London Gazette: no. 52979. p. 11141. 2 July 1992.

• The Times House of Commons 1955. The Times. 1955.

External links

• Catalogue of the Finsberg papers at the Archives Division of the London School of Economics.