Robin Catford
Sir Robin Catford | |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary | |
| In office 1982–1993 | |
| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher John Major |
| Preceded by | Colin Vyvyan Peterson |
| Succeeded by | John Holroyd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 January 1923 |
| Died | 27 May 2008 (aged 85) |
| Spouse | Daphne Georgina Darby |
| Alma mater | St Andrews University St John's College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Civil Servant |
Sir Robin Catford, KCVO, CBE (11 January 1923 – 27 May 2008) was a British civil servant who served as the Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary to Margaret Thatcher and John Major.[1]
Early life
[edit]Sir Robin attended Hampton Grammar School before reading Agriculture at St Andrews University and St John's College, Cambridge.[1]
Career
[edit]After Cambridge, Sir Robin joined the Sudan Civil Service for nine years. On his return to Britain, he entered industry and worked for Fisons.[2]
In 1966, he joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries as Principal Secretary, eventually becoming under-secretary in 1979.[3]
In 1982, Sir Robin was appointed Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary, succeeding Colin Vyvyan Peterson. He was responsible for advising the Prime Minister on Crown appointments.[2] These largely consisted of senior Church of England appointments but also included, for instance, the selection of Ted Hughes to succeed John Betjeman as Poet Laureate.[4]
In 1988, Sir Robin helped Margaret Thatcher to write her "Sermon on the Mound" speech.[5]
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990 and a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1993.[6]
Personal life
[edit]He married Daphne Georgina Darby in 1948. She died in 2005.[7] Sir Robin and Lady Catford together had three sons and a daughter.[8]
His recreations were listed in Who's Who as "Sailing, theatre, travel, arts, avoiding gardening".[3]
He was a devout Anglican and a member of the Diocesan Synod of Chichester.[9][4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Sir Robin Catford". Daily Telegraph. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Sir Robin Catford: secretary for appointments under Thatcher". The Times. 23 June 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Catford, Sir (John) Robin". Who's Who. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Obituary: SIR ROBIN CATFORD". Church Times. 9 July 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2021.