Peter Pilkington, Baron Pilkington of Oxenford
Peter Pilkington, Baron Pilkington of Oxenford ( born September 5, 1933, Newcastle upon Tyne, † 14 February 2011) was a British Life peer and politician ( Conservative Party ).
Life and career
Pilkington was born on September 5, 1933, the son of Frank and Doris Pilkington. His parents were atheists; he himself discovered in his time as a student of Dame Allan's Grammar School in Newcastle upon Tyne his turn to Christianity. His father worked as a traveling salesman. In 1952 he began to study history at Jesus College, University of Cambridge. On the History Faculty of the University of conservative currents at that time were on the rise; Pilkington was decisively influenced by ideas of historians and philosophers Maurice Cowling, Herbert Butterfield and Michael Oakeshott. In 1955 he graduated with a Master of Arts in History.
He joined the Universities ' Mission to Central Africa, an Anglican Missionary Society, at. In missions he was from 1955 to 1957 worked as a teacher. He worked in Tanganyika with lepers, an experience that further convinced him of the Christian religion and its power to change. In 1957 he returned to Cambridge. In preparation for the priesthood, he attended the theological college Westcott House, Cambridge. In 1959, he was consecrated in Bakewell, Derbyshire a priest. There he took a job as a vicar ( Curate ). This position he held until 1962.
He was from 1962 to 1976 teachers ( School Master) at Eton College, where he was within two years Master in College and took over the school supervision for the King's Scholars. In 1975 he moved as Rector ( Headmaster ) to the The King's School, where he remained in office until 1986. He was involved there were instrumental in establishing a voluntary social service, working as a volunteer with the elderly, with children from socially disadvantaged families or in hospitals at the boy. From 1986 to 1992 he was Rector (High Master) St Paul's School in London. He took early retirement to become chairman ( Chairman ) of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC ), a position he held from 1992 to 1996.
From 1975 to 1990 he was Honorary Canon ( Honorary Canon ) at the Cathedral of Canterbury; then Canon Emeritus.
Membership in the House of Lords
Pilkington was appointed on 12 January 1996 for Life peer as Baron Pilkington of Oxenford, of West Dowlish in the County of Somerset. His maiden speech in the House of Lords he held on 21 February 1996. Between 1997 and 1998 he was the opposition spokesperson for education and Brschäftigung ( Opposition Spokesperson for Education and Employment) under William Hague, but resigned in protest, as Hague Lord Cranborne, the Chairman of the Conservatives in the House of Lords dismissed.
He reported last December 9, 2010 to word. He recently took part in a vote on February 9, 2011.
Work in the public
Although he was known for his conservative attitude, Pilkington led during his time as head teacher a series of reforms. These included the abolition of corporal punishment and the authorization of multi- classes in some grades. Two new school buildings and a study center for art were opened during his tenure; an increasing number of students won scholarships from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.
He was a staunch opponent of " inclusion" and the then- held view that vocational and academic qualifications should be assimilated. Pilkington argued that these two disciplines are incompatible and should remain separate. Pilkington was an advocate of the principle of academic selection and argued that the school leaving age should be lowered to avoid that non- academic students continued a form in which they have no interest.
The socio-political model of the welfare state ( welfarism ), he was skeptical. He believed that Christianity should be " politically indifferent and morally involved ." He rejected the concept of a church that is trying to remain relevant with compromises towards secularism.
In 1991 he wrote a pamphlet for the Centre for Policy Studies, End Egalitarian Delusion, in which he called on the government to provide education excellence takes precedence over social engineering.
The assumption of the Presidency of the BCC was taken by some Labour politicians indignantly noted. As the most controversial decision of the BCC under his chairmanship, the decision applies from 1994, was upheld as a complaint by the National Council of One Parent Families, the BBC series Babies on Benefit is unjust and unfair to single parents.
Pilkington was active as president of the National Grammar Schools' Association. He led the campaign against the government's attempt to abolish the remaining grammar schools. Pilkington criticized while the local school principal who "hide behind paragraphs " in to avoid problems.
Family and death
Pilkington married in 1966 Helen Wilson, the granddaughter of a snuff tycoons whom he had met in 1959 while serving as a curate in Bakewell. She died in 1997. They had two daughters.
Pilkington died on 14 February 2011 at the age of 77 years. The funeral was held in Somerset on February 23, 2011. A thanksgiving service will be held at St Margaret 's Church in London's Westminster on 16 June 2011.