Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Viscount RidleyCBE (16 December 1902 – 25 February 1964) was a British peer, landowner, public servant and race car driver. He was also the third Baron Wensleydale and seventh Baronet Ridley.[1]
Ridley was a self-taught engineer and car racing enthusiast. At the family estate, Blagdon Hall, he designed and built his own car to challenge the speed records for Class H vehicles (501 – 750cc).[2] In 1931, he set the record for the "flying kilometre and flying mile" in the International Class A at Brooklands, with mean speeds of 105.42 mph (kilometre) and 104.56 mph (mile).[1] He was badly injured in an accident at Brooklands at the end of the 1931 season, when his car reportedly reached a speed of 112 mph.[2]
Careeredit
He inherited considerable estates in Northumberland (10,000 acres) and devoted his life to public affairs. He was a member of the Northumberland County Council from 1928 to his death, and chairman of the North-East Development Association, the North-East Industrial and Development Association, the Northern Regional Board for Industry,[1] and the Rock Building Society.[2]
In business, he also served as chairman of the Consett Iron Works, director of the Moor Line steamship company, and a member of the board of Lloyds Bank.[1]
Ridley served as an officer in the Northumberland Yeomanry, an honorary colonel of the Tyne Electrical Engineers and was active in the Territorial Army. Nationally he served as Director of Hydrogen Production for the Air Ministry, Director of Producer Gas Vehicles for Ministry of Transport and as North Regional Controller of the Ministry of Production.[1] During the Second World War, he designed an auxiliary engine for Sunderland flying boats.[2]
In 1937, he became chairman of the council of King's College, Newcastle and had a significant role in the creation of the new University of Newcastle upon Tyne.[1]
matthew, white, ridley, viscount, ridley, december, 1902, february, 1964, british, peer, landowner, public, servant, race, driver, also, third, baron, wensleydale, seventh, baronet, ridley, right, honourablethe, viscount, ridleycbemember, house, lordslord, tem. Matthew White Ridley 3rd Viscount Ridley CBE 16 December 1902 25 February 1964 was a British peer landowner public servant and race car driver He was also the third Baron Wensleydale and seventh Baronet Ridley 1 The Right HonourableThe Viscount RidleyCBEMember of the House of LordsLord TemporalIn office 1924 1964Hereditary peeragePreceded byMatthew White Ridley 1916 Succeeded byMatthew White RidleyPersonal detailsBornMatthew White Ridley16 December 1902Marylebone LondonDied25 February 1964 1964 02 25 aged 61 Northumberland EnglandCitizenshipBritishSpouse s Ursula Viscountess Ridley nee Lutyens Children3ParentMatthew White Ridley 2nd Viscount RidleyResidence s Blagdon Hall NorthumberlandEducationEton CollegeAlma materBalliol College Oxford Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and education 1 2 Racing 1 3 Career 1 4 Family 2 References 3 External linksBiography editEarly life and education edit Ridley was the son and heir of the 2nd Viscount Ridley and Rosamond Cornelia Gwladys Guest daughter of the 1st Baron Wimborne He succeeded to the family titles when he was just 13 years old after his father s death on 14 February 1916 He attended Eton College and Balliol College Oxford 1 Racing edit Ridley was a self taught engineer and car racing enthusiast At the family estate Blagdon Hall he designed and built his own car to challenge the speed records for Class H vehicles 501 750cc 2 In 1931 he set the record for the flying kilometre and flying mile in the International Class A at Brooklands with mean speeds of 105 42 mph kilometre and 104 56 mph mile 1 He was badly injured in an accident at Brooklands at the end of the 1931 season when his car reportedly reached a speed of 112 mph 2 Career edit He inherited considerable estates in Northumberland 10 000 acres and devoted his life to public affairs He was a member of the Northumberland County Council from 1928 to his death and chairman of the North East Development Association the North East Industrial and Development Association the Northern Regional Board for Industry 1 and the Rock Building Society 2 In business he also served as chairman of the Consett Iron Works director of the Moor Line steamship company and a member of the board of Lloyds Bank 1 Ridley served as an officer in the Northumberland Yeomanry an honorary colonel of the Tyne Electrical Engineers and was active in the Territorial Army Nationally he served as Director of Hydrogen Production for the Air Ministry Director of Producer Gas Vehicles for Ministry of Transport and as North Regional Controller of the Ministry of Production 1 During the Second World War he designed an auxiliary engine for Sunderland flying boats 2 In 1937 he became chairman of the council of King s College Newcastle and had a significant role in the creation of the new University of Newcastle upon Tyne 1 Viscount Ridley was invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1938 New Year Honours for public services in Durham and Tyneside 3 Family edit Ridley married Ursula Lutyens daughter of Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens and Lady Emily Bulwer Lytton daughter of Robert Bulwer Lytton 1st Earl of Lytton on 13 October 1924 They had three children together Matthew White Ridley 4th Viscount Ridley 29 July 1925 22 March 2012 Nicholas Ridley Baron Ridley of Liddesdale 17 February 1929 4 March 1993 Hon Laura Consuelo Ridley who married Adrian Carrick References edit a b c d e f g Viscount Ridley A Life of Public Service The Times 26 February 1964 p 14 a b c d Family History Blagdon Estate Archived from the original on 18 February 2020 Retrieved 3 February 2016 No 34469 The London Gazette Supplement 1 January 1938 p 9 External links editBlagdon Estate Family History Archived 18 February 2020 at the Wayback MachinePeerage of the United KingdomPreceded byMatthew White Ridley Viscount Ridley1916 1964 Succeeded byMatthew White Ridley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matthew White Ridley 3rd Viscount Ridley amp oldid 1174800164, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
