Derek Ezra, Baron Ezra
The Lord Ezra | |
|---|---|
 Ezra in 2014 | |
| Chairman of the National Coal Board | |
| In office 1972–1982 | |
| Preceded by | Alf Robens |
| Succeeded by | Sir Normal Siddall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 February 1919 |
| Died | 22 December 2015 (aged 96) |
| Alma mater | Magdalene College, Cambridge |
Derek Ezra, Baron Ezra, MBE (23 February 1919 – 22 December 2015) was a British coal industry administrator who served as Chairman of the National Coal Board for eleven years.
Early life
[edit]Ezra attended Monmouth School before going up to Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a first class honours degree in History.[1][2] He joined the Liberal Party in 1936 at university, when he joined Cambridge University Liberal Club, whose committee he later joined.[3] During World War II he worked in intelligence at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force; he received the U.S. Bronze Star Medal in 1945.[4]
Career
[edit]Ezra embarked on a career with the National Coal Board in 1945 and held the post of Chairman of the National Coal Board for the longest term in its history. He was then created a life peer sitting as a Liberal in the Lords, and was a Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Energy from 1998 to 2005. Following the death of Denis Healey in October 2015, Ezra became the oldest sitting member of the House of Lords,[5] but took leave of absence on 30 November and died on 22 December 2015.[6]
Honours
[edit]In 1945 Ezra was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE),[7] and was knighted on 24 July 1974.[8] He was created a life peer as Baron Ezra, of Horsham in the County of West Sussex on 2 February 1983.[9]
Ezra was admitted a Liveryman Honoris Causa of the Haberdashers' Company, and elected an Honorary Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge.
Derek Ezra Award
[edit]The Combustion Engineering Association gives the Derek Ezra Award for "outstanding achievement in the study of combustion engineering".[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ Lord Ezra Obituary at The Guardian Retrieved 22 December 2015
- ^ Baron Ezra Obituary at FT Retrieved 22 December 2015
- ^ "About us". The Keynes Society.
- ^ "Lord Ezra, NCB chairman - obituary". Telegraph.co.uk. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "House of Lords, Official Website - Who is the oldest sitting Member of the House of Lords?". Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Lord Ezra". UK Parliament website.
- ^ "No. 37204". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 August 1945. p. 3954.
- ^ "No. 46366". The London Gazette. 8 October 1974. pp. 8535–8536.
- ^ "No. 49256". The London Gazette. 7 February 1983. p. 1795.
External links
[edit]- Portraits of Derek Ezra, Baron Ezra at the National Portrait Gallery, London
- Combustion Engineering Association
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