Sir Kenneth Owen Roberts-Wray, GCMG,QC (1899–1983) was a British lawyer and civil servant. An authority on Commonwealth and colonial law, he was Legal Adviser to the Commonwealth Relations Office (Dominions Office until 1947) and the Colonial Office from 1945 to 1960.
Born 6 June 1899, Kenneth Roberts-Wray was the son of Captain Thomas Henry Roberts-Wray, sometime aide-de-camp to King George V, and of Florence Grace Roberts-Wray. He was educated at University Tutorial College, Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and Merton College, Oxford, where he took first-class honours in jurisprudence.
During the First World War, Roberts-Wray was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a second lieutenant in 1918, promoted to lieutenant in 1919, and retired from the army because of wounds in 1920. He was called to the bar in 1924, receiving the Certificate of Honour at the bar examinations. Joining the Civil Service in 1926, he joined the Ministry of Health as a Professional Legal Clerk, before being promoted Assistant Chief Clerk in 1929.
He transferred to the Dominions Office and the Colonial Office in 1931 as Second Assistant Legal Adviser, and was promoted to Assistant Legal Adviser in 1943, and Legal Adviser in 1945. During his tenure, he took part in numerous pre-independence constitutional conferences as legal adviser, the last one being the constitutional conference leading to the independence of Nigeria in 1960.
In retirement, Roberts-Wray was the author of Commonwealth and Colonial Law (Stevens, 1966), a seminal work in that area. From January to June 1969, he served as Acting Attorney-General of Gibraltar. He died on 29 August 1983.
Familyedit
Roberts-Wray firstly married in 1927 Joan Tremayne Waring (died 1961); they had three sons. After he death, he married secondly, in 1965, Lady (Mary Howard) Williams, widow of Sir Ernest Williams.
Honoursedit
Roberts-Wray was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1946, promoted Knight Commander in 1949, and Knight Grand Cross in 1960. In 1959, he was appointed a Queen's Counsel. He received an honorary DCL from the University of Oxford in 1967 and an honorary LLD from the University of Birmingham in 1968.
Referencesedit
G. J. Zellick, "Sir Kenneth Roberts-Wray", The Times, 3 September 1983, p. 8
Sir James McPetrie, "Sir Kenneth Roberts-Wray", The Times, 14 September 1983, p. 12.
Roberts-Wray, Sir Kenneth Owen, (6 June 1899–29 Aug. 1983), QC 1959; Legal Adviser, Commonwealth Relations Office (Dominions Office until 1947) and Colonial Office, 1945–60, retired
January 01, 1970
kenneth, roberts, wray, kenneth, owen, roberts, wray, gcmg, 1899, 1983, british, lawyer, civil, servant, authority, commonwealth, colonial, legal, adviser, commonwealth, relations, office, dominions, office, until, 1947, colonial, office, from, 1945, 1960, gcm. Sir Kenneth Owen Roberts Wray GCMG QC 1899 1983 was a British lawyer and civil servant An authority on Commonwealth and colonial law he was Legal Adviser to the Commonwealth Relations Office Dominions Office until 1947 and the Colonial Office from 1945 to 1960 Sir Kenneth Roberts WrayGCMG QCBornKenneth Owen Roberts Wray 1899 06 06 6 June 1899Died29 August 1983 1983 08 29 aged 84 NationalityBritishAlma materMerton College OxfordOccupationsLawyercivil servantSpousesJoan Tremayne Waring m 1927 died 1961 wbr Lady Mary Howard Williams m 1965 wbr Contents 1 Biography 2 Family 3 Honours 4 ReferencesBiography editBorn 6 June 1899 Kenneth Roberts Wray was the son of Captain Thomas Henry Roberts Wray sometime aide de camp to King George V and of Florence Grace Roberts Wray He was educated at University Tutorial College Royal Military Academy Woolwich and Merton College Oxford where he took first class honours in jurisprudence During the First World War Roberts Wray was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a second lieutenant in 1918 promoted to lieutenant in 1919 and retired from the army because of wounds in 1920 He was called to the bar in 1924 receiving the Certificate of Honour at the bar examinations Joining the Civil Service in 1926 he joined the Ministry of Health as a Professional Legal Clerk before being promoted Assistant Chief Clerk in 1929 He transferred to the Dominions Office and the Colonial Office in 1931 as Second Assistant Legal Adviser and was promoted to Assistant Legal Adviser in 1943 and Legal Adviser in 1945 During his tenure he took part in numerous pre independence constitutional conferences as legal adviser the last one being the constitutional conference leading to the independence of Nigeria in 1960 In retirement Roberts Wray was the author of Commonwealth and Colonial Law Stevens 1966 a seminal work in that area From January to June 1969 he served as Acting Attorney General of Gibraltar He died on 29 August 1983 Family editRoberts Wray firstly married in 1927 Joan Tremayne Waring died 1961 they had three sons After he death he married secondly in 1965 Lady Mary Howard Williams widow of Sir Ernest Williams Honours editRoberts Wray was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1946 promoted Knight Commander in 1949 and Knight Grand Cross in 1960 In 1959 he was appointed a Queen s Counsel He received an honorary DCL from the University of Oxford in 1967 and an honorary LLD from the University of Birmingham in 1968 References editG J Zellick Sir Kenneth Roberts Wray The Times 3 September 1983 p 8 Sir James McPetrie Sir Kenneth Roberts Wray The Times 14 September 1983 p 12 Roberts Wray Sir Kenneth Owen 6 June 1899 29 Aug 1983 QC 1959 Legal Adviser Commonwealth Relations Office Dominions Office until 1947 and Colonial Office 1945 60 retired Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kenneth Roberts Wray amp oldid 1188213954, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
