Aubrey Buxton, Baron Buxton of Alsa

Major Aubrey Leland Oakes Buxton, Baron Buxton of Alsa KCVO MC DL (15 July 1918 – 1 September 2009) was a British soldier, politician, television executive, and writer.

Biography

Early life

He was born on 15 July 1918. His father was Leland William Wilberforce Buxton and his mother, Ada Mary Oakes. He was the great-great-grandson of the anti-slavery campaigner Sir Thomas Buxton. He was educated at Ampleforth College in Yorkshire and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge. He served in the Royal Artillery in the Second World War and was decorated with the Military Cross in 1943.

Career

From 1958 to 1988, he was a Director of Anglia Television. He was best known for creating the nature documentary series Survival, which ran for four decades.[1]

Philanthropy

In 1961 he was one of the co-founders of the World Wildlife Fund.[2] As well as the WWF, he was involved with the Natural History Museum, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the London Zoological Society.[3] In 1976 he and Lady Buxton donated a 10 hectare estate near Elsenham to the Essex Wildlife Trust, and it is named the Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.[4]

In 1964, he was Extra Equerry to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and in 1972 High Sheriff of Essex. He became Deputy Lieutenant of Essex in 1975 and held this office until 1985.

Peerage

On 11 May 1978, he was created a life peer as Baron Buxton of Alsa, of Stiffkey in the County of Norfolk.[5] In 1996, Buxton, was invested as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).[6]

Personal life

He was married twice: firstly to Pamela Mary, daughter of Sir Henry Birkin, 3rd Baronet, on 14 November 1946; and secondly (having been widowed in 1983) to Kathleen Peterson, an American writer, on 16 July 1988. His first marriage produced six children, one of whom, Cindy Buxton, is a noted filmmaker.

He died on 1 September 2009, aged 91, from undisclosed causes.

Coat of arms of Aubrey Buxton, Baron Buxton of Alsa
Coronet
Coronet of a baron
Crest
A Stag's Head couped Gules attired Or gorged with a Collar of the last pendent therefrom an Escutcheon Argent charged with a Negro's Head couped at the shoulders in profile proper
Escutcheon
Argent a Lion rampant the tail elevated and turned over the head between two Mullets in fess Sable
Supporters
Dexter: A Crowned Crane (balearica pavonina); Sinister: A Flamingo, both proper [7]
Motto
Do it with thy might

Bibliography
  • The Birds of Arakan (1946)
  • The King in his Country (1955)
  • The London Scene (1961)

See also

References
  1. The Times Online obituary
  2. The Daily Telegraph obituary
  3. Lasting Tribute website
  4. "Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve". Essex Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  5. "No. 47535". The London Gazette. 16 May 1978. p. 5901.
  6. "No. 54579". The London Gazette. 12 November 1996. p. 15005.
  7. http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/online/content/lp1958%20b.htm
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Alan James Vincent Arthur		 High Sheriff of Essex
1972–1973		 Succeeded by
Gerald Colville Seymour Curtis


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