Marmaduke Hussey, Baron Hussey of North Bradley
Marmaduke James Hussey, Baron Hussey of North Bradley (29 August 1923 – 27 December 2006), known as Duke Hussey, was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC from 1986 to 1996, serving two terms in that role.
Education and career
The son of the athlete and colonial administrator Eric Hussey and his wife, Christine Elizabeth Morley, Marmaduke Hussey was educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Oxford. He served in the Grenadier Guards in World War II and was severely injured at Anzio, having to have a leg amputated as a prisoner-of-war, which resulted in his repatriation.[1][2]
He joined Associated Newspapers where he had a long career, culminating in being appointed managing director. He subsequently joined Times Newspapers as chief executive and managing director, a post he held from 1971 to 1980.[3]
Chairman of the BBC
He was appointed Chairman of the BBC in 1986, upon the death of Stuart Young, thanks in part to his close connections to the ruling Conservative Party.[2]
Within three months of joining the BBC, he had forced the resignation of the Director-General, Alasdair Milne, following a series of rows in recent years between the BBC and the Conservative government.[4] In the 1990s, Hussey fell out with Director General John Birt over his management style and Panorama's controversial interview with Diana, Princess of Wales in 1995.[5][6]
On 11 September 1996, Hussey was made a life peer as Baron Hussey of North Bradley, of North Bradley in the County of Wiltshire.[7]
Hussey gave up several boardroom appointments when he took up his job at the BBC, but he remained chairman of the Royal Marsden Hospital until 1998.[2]
Family
His wife Lady Susan Hussey was a Woman of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth II and is also godmother to the Prince of Wales. He had a son and a daughter with his wife.[2]
Death
Marmaduke Hussey died at the age of 83 on 27 December 2006.[3]
Arms
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References
- ^ "Marmaduke James Hussey, Baron Hussey of North Bradley : Genealogics".
- ^ a b c d Obituary, The Guardian, 27 December 2006.
- ^ a b Lord Hussey of North Bradley: Obituary, The Times; accessed 26 March 2016.
- ^ "Obituary: Lord Hussey of North Bradley". BBC News. 27 December 2006.
- ^ "I wanted Birt out, says his old boss at BBC". The Guardian. 29 October 2001. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Demetriou, Danielle (27 October 2001). "Hussey says Birt was his greatest mistake". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ "No. 54527". The London Gazette. 17 September 1996. p. 12351.
- ^ Debrett's Peerage. 2000.
Further reading
- Hussey, Marmaduke (2001). Chance Governs All: a memoir. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0333902564.
External links
- Obituary: Lord Hussey of North Bradley, BBC News, 27 December 2006.
- Obituary[dead link], The Daily Telegraph, 28 December 2006.
- Obituary, The Independent, 28 December 2006.
- Ex-BBC chairman Lord Hussey dies, BBC News, 27 December 2006.
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- AC with 0 elements
- 1923 births
- 2006 deaths
- Alumni of Trinity College, Oxford
- BBC Governors
- Chairmen of the BBC
- Grenadier Guards officers
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Crossbench life peers
- People educated at Rugby School
- English amputees
- British World War II prisoners of war
- Royalty and nobility with disabilities
- World War II prisoners of war held by Germany