Alexander John Bruce-Lockhart, Baron Bruce-Lockhart, OBE (4 May 1942 – 14 August 2008), commonly known as Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, was a British Conservative politician and a senior figure in English local government. He was the leader of Kent County Council and then Chairman of the Local Government Association. He was succeeded in the latter post by Simon Milton, ex-Leader of Westminster Council.
He was the younger brother of James Bruce Lockhart (1941–2018), a diplomat, intelligence officer, author, and artist.[4]
Careeredit
He left the United Kingdom to work in the then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), managing a large farm for a South African owner. After a period in Australia, he returned to live in Kent in 1968, where he had a dairy farm, then a 300-acre (1.2 km2) fruit farm, in Headcorn.
He became a county councillor for Maidstone Rural East in 1989. At the time he was chairman of a rail committee in the Weald of Kent preservation society, which had been protesting about what he then regarded as the destructive route of the Channel tunnel rail link. He became leader of the opposition Conservative group in 1993 and leader of the Council in 1997, retaining the post until 2005.[5] While leader of Kent County Council, Bruce-Lockhart became a controversial figure on the national political stage for his introduction of a local version of the recently repealed anti-gay Section 28 legislation. In July 2004, having been vice-chairman for two years, Lord Bruce-Lockhart succeeded Sir Jeremy Beecham to become Chairman of the Local Government Association, following the Conservatives becoming the largest political group in the Association as the result of the local elections in May.
On 17 June 2008, Lord Bruce-Lockhart was made an honorary Freeman of the City of Canterbury.[8] After a battle with cancer, he died in 2008, aged 66.[9]
Personal lifeedit
In 1966, Bruce-Lockhart married Tess Pressland, and they had two sons and a daughter.
sandy, bruce, lockhart, baron, bruce, lockhart, alexander, john, bruce, lockhart, baron, bruce, lockhart, 1942, august, 2008, commonly, known, sandy, bruce, lockhart, british, conservative, politician, senior, figure, english, local, government, leader, kent, . Alexander John Bruce Lockhart Baron Bruce Lockhart OBE 4 May 1942 14 August 2008 commonly known as Sandy Bruce Lockhart was a British Conservative politician and a senior figure in English local government He was the leader of Kent County Council and then Chairman of the Local Government Association He was succeeded in the latter post by Simon Milton ex Leader of Westminster Council The Right HonourableThe Lord Bruce LockhartOBEBruce Lockhart in 2008Born4 May 1942Died14 August 2008EducationDragon SchoolSedberghRoyal Agricultural CollegeOccupationPoliticianSpouseTess PresslandChildren2 sons 1 daughterParentJohn Bruce LockhartRelativesR H Bruce Lockhart paternal great uncle John Bruce Lockhart paternal grandfather Logie Bruce Lockhart paternal uncle Rab Bruce Lockhart paternal uncle Dugald Bruce Lockhart nephew Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 ReferencesEarly life editBruce Lockhart was born on 4 May 1942 into the Scottish Bruce Lockhart family which held close ties to the diplomatic service 1 His father John Bruce Lockhart was deputy director of MI6 and a university administrator 2 His mother was Margaret Evelyn Hone 3 He was educated at the Dragon School Sedbergh and the Royal Agricultural College Cirencester He was the younger brother of James Bruce Lockhart 1941 2018 a diplomat intelligence officer author and artist 4 Career editHe left the United Kingdom to work in the then Rhodesia now Zimbabwe managing a large farm for a South African owner After a period in Australia he returned to live in Kent in 1968 where he had a dairy farm then a 300 acre 1 2 km2 fruit farm in Headcorn He became a county councillor for Maidstone Rural East in 1989 At the time he was chairman of a rail committee in the Weald of Kent preservation society which had been protesting about what he then regarded as the destructive route of the Channel tunnel rail link He became leader of the opposition Conservative group in 1993 and leader of the Council in 1997 retaining the post until 2005 5 While leader of Kent County Council Bruce Lockhart became a controversial figure on the national political stage for his introduction of a local version of the recently repealed anti gay Section 28 legislation In July 2004 having been vice chairman for two years Lord Bruce Lockhart succeeded Sir Jeremy Beecham to become Chairman of the Local Government Association following the Conservatives becoming the largest political group in the Association as the result of the local elections in May He was made a Knight Bachelor in the New Year s Honours List of December 2002 having previously been appointed OBE On 11 April 2006 it was announced that he was to be elevated to a life peerage and on 9 June 2006 he was gazetted as Baron Bruce Lockhart of The Weald in the County of Kent 6 On 24 May 2007 it was announced that he had been appointed as Chair of English Heritage 7 On 17 June 2008 Lord Bruce Lockhart was made an honorary Freeman of the City of Canterbury 8 After a battle with cancer he died in 2008 aged 66 9 Personal life editIn 1966 Bruce Lockhart married Tess Pressland and they had two sons and a daughter Death editHe died on 14 August 2008 References edit Policy Review TV speaker profile Memorial services Mr John Bruce Lockhart in The Times London 22 June 1995 p 22 Person Page James Bruce Lockhart Intelligence officer from a family of spies obituary in The Times dated 5 December 2018 accessed 29 April 2019 Sir Sandy quits as council leader No 58011 The London Gazette 14 June 2006 p 8145 Lord Bruce Lockhart to be new English Heritage Chairman Lord Bruce Lockhart to be Freeman of Canterbury permanent dead link Former KCC leader Sandy Bruce Lockhart dies Archived 2008 09 08 at the Wayback Machine Kent News accessed 14 August 2008 Preceded bySir Jeremy Beecham Chair of the Local Government Association2004 2007 Succeeded bySir Simon Milton Preceded byJohn Ovenden Leader of Kent County Council1997 2005 Succeeded byPaul Carter Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sandy Bruce Lockhart Baron Bruce Lockhart amp oldid 1178443553, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
