Shireen Ritchie, Baroness Ritchie of Brompton

Shireen Olive Ritchie, Baroness Ritchie of Brompton ( born June 22, 1945 as Shireen Olive Folkard, † 24 April 2012) was a British politician ( Conservative Party ) and Life Peeress. As a politician, she advocated to empower women in the Conservative Party.

Youth and professional

She was born as the daughter of Commander Lionel Folkard on June 22, 1945. The father was an Arabist in the colonial service. So, she spent part of her childhood in Yemen. At the age of seven, she came to a boarding school in England. A few years later, she was ten years old, also returned their parents. Their marriage broke up soon after, what Ritchie loaded. She later worked as a model and worked among others for Mary Quant and Zandra Rhodes.

In her first marriage she was married to John Williams and had a son with this. After her divorce, she met John Ritchie know. The two married in 1982 and she gave up her work, and took care of her step-children Tabitha and Guy Ritchie.

Political career

From 1998 to 2010 she was a member of Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council. This was her first political office. They represented the district Brompton. In 2008, she said in the hearings of the Interior Committee on trafficking. She was involved in the efforts of the Conservative Party, to draw attention to the issue of diversity within the party, this involved the efforts women2win 2005 Priority List ( A-List ) candidates, for which she received intra-party criticism.

She was Chair ( Chair ) of the Candidates Committee of the Party from 2006 to 2010 and became the pioneer of the Conservative Woman's Organization. In 2010 she was Chair ( Chair ) of the Family and Children's Services of the Local Government Association ( LGA). During this time the department has undergone reforms to reduce the clerical work to reduce the pressure on social workers and to improve the quality of care for children. Ritchie was a member of the Family Justice Review Panel, Kensington and Chelsea Partnership Steering Group, the Health and Well-Being Partnership Board (ex officio ), the Joint Health Commissioning Board, the Supporting People Commissioning Body, the Borough Voluntary Organisations Advisory Group and the Stable Way Advisory Group. She was also president ( chairman ) of the Appeals Panel.

Ritchie was a member of several other committees. She was a member of the Local Government Association General Assembly, London Councils ( Children and Young People's Forum ), the London Councils Grants Committee ( as vice chair [ Deputy ] ), the William Petyt Charity and the London Youth Crime Prevention Board.

In 2000 it was the first woman Chairman ( Chair ) of Kensington and Chelsea Conservative Association and remained until her retirement in 2004 at the office. Previously, she was Deputy Chairman ( Deputy Chairman ) and was supported in this position the candidacy of Michael Portillo at a by-election in 1999.

At the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council it was from 2003 to 2005 responsible for social services and from 2005 for family and children. From 2008 to 2009 Ritchie was Deputy Mayor ( Deputy Mayor ). She was also a Non-executive Director of the Kensington and Chelsea Primary Care Trust.

Membership in the House of Lords

Ritchie was on 25 June 2010 for Life Peeress as Baroness Ritchie of Brampton, of Brampton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Your official introduction to the House of Lords took place on 29 June 2010 with the support of Joan Hanham, Baroness Hanham and Patricia Morris, Baroness Morris of Bolton.

Ritchie was present at relatively regular meeting days.

More offices

She was Chair ( Chair ) of the Children and Young People Board of the Local Government Association and a member of the Supervisory Board (Board) of Cafcass, a consulting service in family court.

In the charity UK Youth Ritchie Vice President was ( Vice President ). She was also President of the National Children's Bureau.