Lord Gibson (1916-2004)

[Michael Rhodes]

The Lord Gibson, life peer, Chairman of the National Trust, 1977-86,
died at his home, Penn's Rocks, Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, 20
April, 2004. He was aged 88.

Richard Patrick Tallentyre Gibson was born 5 February, 1916, son of
Thornely Carbutt Gibson, of Kensington Gate, London, by his wife
Elizabeth Anne Augusta, and was educated at Eton and Magdalen College,
Oxford.

Career: joined the London Stock Exchange, 1937; served in the army
with the Midlesex Yeomary 1940-46, North Africa 1941, prisoner of war
1941-43; Special Operations Executive, 1943-45; Political Inteligence
Department, Foreign Office, 1945-46; Westminster Press Ltd, 1947-78
(director 1948); Director, Whitehall Securities Corporation, 1948-60,
1973-83; Chairman of the Fincancial Times Ltd, 1975-77; Economist
Newspapers Ltd, 1957-78; Pearson PLC (formerly S. Pearson & Son Ltd)
1960-88 (Deputy Chairman 1969; Executive Deputy Chairman 1975,
Chairman 1978-83); Royal Exchange Association, 1961-69; Chairman,
Pearson Longman Ltd, 1967-79; Hon. Treasurer Commonwealth Press
Union, 1957-67; Chairman of the Arts Council, 1972-77; Vice-President,
RSA, 1986-90; Trustee, Historic Churches Preservation Trust, 1958;
Member of the Advisory Council of the Victoria & Albert Museum,
1968-75 (Chairman 1970); Member of the Board of the Royal Opera House,
1977-87; Treasurer, Sussex University, 1983-87; Trustee, Glyndebourne
Festival Opera, 1965-72 & 1977-86; &c.

He was ennobled in 1975, as Baron Gibson, of Penn's Rocks, in the
County of East Sussex.

He married 14 July, 1945, Elisabeth Dione, third daughter of Major the
Hon. (Bernard) Clive Pearson (1887-1965) (younger brother of the 2nd
Viscount Cowdray), by his wife, the Hon. Alicia Mary Dorothea
Knatchbull-Hugessen, daughter of the 1st Lord Brabourne.

He is survived by Lady Gibson and by four sons, the Hon. Hugh, the
Hon. Clive, the Hon. William, and the Hon. Piers.

The funeral takes place at St Michael's Church, Withyham, Tuesday 27
April, 2004.

--Michael Rhodes (please delete x to e-mail me)

[Michael Rhodes]

The Times obituary of Lord Gibson, April 22, 2004:-

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-1083060,00.html

--Michael (please delete x to e-mail me)