William Clark, Baron Clark of Kempston

William Gibson Haig Clark, Baron Clark of Kempston, PC (18 October 1917 – 6 October 2004) was a British Conservative politician who sat for a total of 29 years as a member of Parliament for three constituencies. He was also a Member of the House of Lords.

The Right Honourable The Lord Clark of Kempston PC
William Clark
Member of Parliament for Croydon South
In office 28 February 1974 – 16 March 1992
Preceded by	Constituency created
Succeeded by	Richard Ottaway
Member of Parliament for East Surrey
In office 18 June 1970 – 8 February 1974
Preceded by	Charles Doughty
Succeeded by	Geoffrey Howe
Member of Parliament for Nottingham South
In office 9 October 1959 – 10 March 1966
Preceded by	Denis Keegan
Succeeded by	George Perry
Personal details
Born	William Gibson Haig Clark 18 October 1917
Died	6 October 2004 (aged 86)
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Irene Rands
Children	4
Alma mater	Battersea Polytechnic
Awards	Knight Bachelor (1980)
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	British Army
Years of service	1941–1946
Rank	Major
Unit	Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Battles/wars	Second World War

Early life

Clark was educated at Battersea Polytechnic, qualifying in accountancy in 1941.[1] From 1941 to 1946 he served in World War II in Britain and India in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, gaining the rank of major. He became involved in business, particularly investing in cane sugar production, with interests in St Kitts and Belize, and in property in the UK. He was also a consultant to Tate&Lyle.[2]

Political career

In 1949, Clark was elected to Wandsworth Borough Council, serving until 1953. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to win a seat on the London County Council and stood without success in the 1955 general election in Northampton.

Clark was elected to Parliament for Nottingham South in 1959, serving on the opposition front bench from 1964 to 1966, the only period in his career. He lost his seat in 1966. He returned to Parliament as the MP for East Surrey in 1970, and from 1974 until he retired in 1992 for its largely successor seat after boundary changes, Croydon South. Sir Geoffrey Howe succeeded him in the East Surrey seat when he was transferred from the Reigate seat. He was active in the 1970s in restoring Conservative Party finances to a sustainable levels. He identified with the right wing of the party and voted against British membership of the Common Market in 1971. He chaired the Conservative backbench Finance Committee from 1979 until 1992, encouraging Margaret Thatcher to pursue financial stability and free enterprise and defending her policies on television and radio. He was knighted in 1980 and in 1990 was made a Privy Counsellor.[3]

Following his retirement Clark received a life peerage on 21 July 1992 as Baron Clark of Kempston, of Kempston in the County of Bedfordshire,[4] and was an active contributor to House of Lords debates.[5]

Personal life

Clark was married to Irene Rands and had three sons and a daughter.

Arms

Coat of arms of William Clark, Baron Clark of Kempston

Crest A Demi Unicorn Azure winged horned crined and unguled Or collared chequy Argent and Azure and supporting with the forelegs a Thistle Plant flowered proper Escutcheon Erminois on a Pile Azure between two Quills pilewise points in base argent penned Or a Portcullis chained in centre in chief Or and five Roundels in pile of the last Supporters Dexter: a Lion Gules gorged with a Collar chequy Argent and Azure pendent therefrom by a Cord Or an Escallop Argent and resting the inferior hind paw on a Portcullis Gold; Sinister: a Unicorn Azure winged horned unguled and crined Or gorged with a Collar chequy Argent and Azure pendent therefrom by a Cord Gold an Escallop Argent and resting the interior hoof on a Bezant Motto Perseverantia Cum Perceptione [6]

References

1. "Lord Clark of Kempston". 6 October 2004. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
2. "Lord Clark of Kempston". The Independent. 29 October 2004. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
3. Biffen, John (8 October 2004). "Obituary: Lord Clark of Kempston". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
4. "No. 52999". The London Gazette. 27 July 1992. p. 12509.
5. "Baron Clark of Kempston". Kempston Local History Society. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
6. "Life Peerages – C". Cracroft's Peerage. Retrieved 11 December 2019.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Clark
• Obituary: Lord Clark of Kempston, The Guardian, 8 October 2004