Thomas Bridges, 2nd Baron Bridges
Thomas Edward Bridges, 2nd Baron Bridges, GCMG (27 November 1927 – 27 May 2017)[1] was a British hereditary peer and diplomat.[2]
The Lord Bridges GCMG | |
|---|---|
 Bridges in 2009 | |
| Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Italy | |
| In office 1983–1987 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Ronald Arculus |
| Succeeded by | Sir Derek Thomas |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal | |
| In office 12 February 1975 – 18 May 2016 Hereditary Peerage | |
| Preceded by | The 1st Baron Bridges |
| Succeeded by | The 15th Earl of Cork |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 November 1927 |
| Died | 27 May 2017 (aged 89) |
| Political party | Crossbench |
| Spouse(s) | Rachel Mary Bunbury |
| Alma mater | Eton College New College, Oxford |
Early life
Bridges was born on 27 November 1927 to Edward Bridges, later Cabinet Secretary. His grandfather was Robert Bridges, the Poet Laureate. He was educated at Eton College and New College, Oxford.
Career
He joined the Diplomatic Service in 1951. Following postings to, amongst other places, West Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow and Washington, D.C., he was HM Ambassador to Italy from 1983 to 1987.
He sat as a crossbench member of the House of Lords from 1975, and was one of the ninety hereditary peers elected to remain under the House of Lords Act 1999[3] He was on leave of absence from March 2011 to May 2015.[4] Having failed to attend during the whole of the 2015–16 session without being on leave of absence, he ceased to be a member on 18 May 2016 pursuant to section 2 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014.[5] He died a year later on 27 May 2017 at the age of 89.
Personal life
Bridges was married to Rachel Mary Bunbury (1926–2005), youngest daughter of Sir Henry Noel Bunbury KCB. They had three children:
- Mark Bridges, 3rd Baron Bridges CVO (b. 1954), Private Solicitor to the Queen[6]
- Hon. Nicholas Edward Bridges (b. 1956), an architect
- Hon. Harriet Elizabeth Bridges
The Conservative peer, The Lord Bridges of Headley, is his nephew.
Honours
In 1969, Bridges succeeded to the barony of Bridges upon the death of his father. In the 1975 New Year Honours, he was appointed to the Order of St Michael and St George as a Companion (CMG).[7] In the 1983 New Year Honours, Bridges was promoted within the same Order as a Knight Commander (KCMG).[8] In the 1988 New Year Honours, Bridges was promoted within the same Order as a Knight Grand Cross (GCMG).[9]
References
- Bridges
- A & C Black (2012). "BRIDGES, 2nd Baron". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- "Lord Bridges". House of Lords website. UK parliament. 2012. Archived from the original on 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- "Ineligible members of the House of Lords". House of Lords website. UK parliament. 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-12.
- "Four absent peers cease to be House of Lords members". BBC News. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
- A & C Black (2012). "BRIDGES, Hon. Mark Thomas". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- "No. 46444". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1974. p. 4.
- "No. 49212". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1982. p. 4.
- "No. 51171". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1987. p. 3.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Ronald Arculus |
HM Ambassador to Italy 1983–1987 |
Succeeded by Sir Derek Thomas |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by Edward Bridges |
Baron Bridges 1969–2017 |
Succeeded by Mark Bridges |