Christopher James, 5th Baron Northbourne
Sir Christopher George Walter James, 5th Baron Northbourne, of Betteshanger in the County of Kent DL FRICS ( born February 18, 1926) is a British nobleman who as 5th Baron Northbourne is a member of the House of Lords since 1982. With the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999, he lost along with all other Erbpeers ( Hereditary peers) the automatic seat in the House of Lords. However, he was chosen as one of 92 selected Erbpeers that remained after the reform in the House.
Life
Christopher James was born into the family of Walter James James, 1791, the dignity of baronet, and in 1884 the title Baron Northbourne, of Betteshanger would be awarded in the County of Kent. His great-grandfather, Walter James, 1st Baron Northbourne was, from 1837 to 1847 Member of the House of Commons for the electoral district of Hull. His son, Walter James, 2nd Baron Northbourne, was 1874-1893 Member of Parliament for the constituency of Gateshead.
He was a farmer and was from 1971 to 1996 director of the Anglo - Indonesia Corporation and since 1975 Chairman of the Board of Bette Hanger Farms Ltd.
After the death of his father, Walter James, 4th Baron Northbourne, in Antwerp won a silver medal with the roller at the rowing competitions at the Olympic Summer Games in 1920, he inherited in 1982 the title of 5th Baron Northbourne and the 6th Baronet, and was thus also associated member of the House of Lords.
In the aftermath Lord Northbourne took over further functions in the private sector between 1987 and 1992 and was Chairman of Kent Salads Ltd and next 1986-1996 Director of Chillington Corporation plc. In addition, he was 1987-1996 Director of Center Parcs Ltd and at the same time from 1988 to 1996 of Center Parcs plc and between 1986 to 1990, Regional Director of Lloyds Banking Group.
Lord Northbourne, which is the county of Kent, and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors since 1996 Deputy Lieutenant, is concerned as a member of the upper house especially with agriculture, education and children's affairs. In the House of Lords he belongs to the group of non-Party, the so-called Cross Bencher.