The death of Lord Dearing at the end of last week meant that the House lost a very active member. A former chairman of the Post Office, Lord Dearing was also a towering name in the field of education. The Dearing Report is regarded as a seminal influence. Whenever a Government wanted some problem solving in the field of education, they called on his services.
Whenever we debated higher education, he and I would normally participate. It was my practice to draw attention to the number of peers speaking who had links with the University of Hull. This usually encompassed two Hull graduates – Lord Dearing and Lord Giddens. Whenever I spoke, seeing him nodding vigorously at a point I was making was always enormously encouraging. He variously joined me when I was lunching in the Bishop’s Bar, keen to discuss education and to know how Hull was doing.
He was active in the House until very recently. He was typical of the dedicated members who have much to contribute and who selflessly commit themselves to the work of the House.
I think it was decent to see that lord adonis former education minister who dealt with lord dearing paid tribute to him in the chamber.
He will be missed.
Lord Giddens ? Please tell me that Anthony Giddens has not been ennobled after all that ‘third way’ nonsense, and that this is someone else entirely who actually deserves to be in the Lords by dint of having done something to benefit humanity.
Tory Boy: I agree. I know Lord Adonis had tremendous respect, as we all did, for Lord Dearing. Adrian Kidney: He will indeed be much missed.
Bedd Gelert: Sorry to disappoint you, but Lord Giddens is indeed Anthony Giddens. He was created a life peer in 2004.
Lord Norton, well, at least he is in somewhere where someone can keep an eye on him and stop him from getting up to too much mischief.. and where he won’t get ‘time off for good behaviour’..