Sir Clive Bossom, 2nd Baronet, (4 February 1918 – 8 March 2017) was a British

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

politician and Member of Parliament (MP).

Early life and political career

Bossom was the second but only surviving son of Alfred Charles Bossom (also an MP, later ennobled as Lord Bossom) and his first wife Emily Bayne. Born in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, he was educated at Eton. As a regular soldier he served throughout the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

in The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) in Europe and the Far East rising to the rank of

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

. He resigned his commission in 1948. His political career began in 1949 when he became a County Councillor in

Kent Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...

until 1951 and he was subsequently

Member of Parliament for

Leominster Leominster ( ) is a market town in Herefordshire, England; it is located at the confluence of the River Lugg and its tributary the River Kenwater. The town is north of Hereford and south of Ludlow in Shropshire. With a population of almos ...

from 1959 to 1974. During this time he was also Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance from 1960 to 1961, to the

Secretary of State for Air The Secretary of State for Air was a secretary of state position in the British government that existed from 1919 to 1964. The person holding this position was in charge of the Air Ministry. The Secretary of State for Air was supported by ...

from 1962 to 1964, to the Minister of Defence (RAF) in 1964 and to the

Home Secretary The secretary of state for the Home Department, more commonly known as the home secretary, is a senior minister of the Crown in the Government of the United Kingdom and the head of the Home Office. The position is a Great Office of State, maki ...

from 1970 to 1972. Bossom succeeded to the baronetcy as Sir Clive Bossom on 4 September 1965.

Other interests

Outside politics he was a director of Vosper from 1973 to 1988, chairman of Europ Assistance Ltd (1972–88), chairman of the Anglo-Eastern Bank, director of the Northern Star Insurance Co, chairman of the

Royal Automobile Club The Royal Automobile Club is a British private Club (organization)#Country or sports club, social and athletic club. It has two clubhouses: one in London at 89 Pall Mall, London, Pall Mall, and the other in the countryside at Woodcote Park, ne ...

, the British Motor Sports Council (1975–82), vice-chairman of the British Roads Federation (1975–82), vice-president (d'honneur) of the

Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA; ) is an international organisation with two primary functions surrounding use of the automobile. Its mobility division advocacy, advocates the interests of motoring organisations, the automot ...

, president of IFPA (1969–81), and Master of the

Worshipful Company of Grocers The Worshipful Company of Grocers is one of the 111 livery companies of the City of London, ranking second in order of precedence. Established in 1345 for merchants engaged in the grocery trade, it is one of the Great Twelve City Livery Compa ...

(1979–80). Bossom was also active in international relations. He was president of the Anglo-Netherlands Society (1978–89), Anglo-Belgian Society (1983–85) and the Iran Society. He received several awards from these countries. In the social fields, he was international president of the International Social Service for Refugees (1984–89), chairman of the Ex-Servicemens War Disabled Help Committee (1973–88) and vice-chairman Joint Committee of the Red Cross and St John (1987–92). He was Almoner of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem between 1987 and 1993. Bossom was a patron of the charity Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB).

Private life

Bossom married Lady Barbara Joan North (a sister of the 9th Earl of Guilford) on 28 September 1951; the couple had four children.

Awards and decorations

* Knight, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (1961) * Knight Commander of the Order of Homayoun (Iran) * Knight Commander of the

Order of Orange-Nassau The Order of Orange-Nassau () is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands. The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has performed acts of special merits for ...

(Netherlands) * Commander of the

Order of Leopold II The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Leopold II. The decoration was established on 24 August 1900 by Leopold II as Sovereign of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgiu ...

(Belgium) * Commander of the

Order of the Crown (Belgium) The Order of the Crown (, ) is a national Order (decoration), order of the Belgium, Kingdom of Belgium. The Order is one of Belgium's highest honors. History The Order was established on October 15, 1897, by Leopold II of Belgium, King Leopold ...

* Fellow,

Royal Geographical Society The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...

* Fellow,

Royal Society of Arts The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, commonly known as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), is a learned society that champions innovation and progress across a multitude of sectors by fostering creativity, s ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bossom, Clive 1918 births 2017 deaths People educated at Eton College Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) officers Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Politics of Herefordshire Knights of the Order of St John Commanders of the Order of Orange-Nassau Commanders of the Order of Leopold II Commanders of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society Councillors in Kent UK MPs 1959–1964 UK MPs 1964–1966 UK MPs 1966–1970 UK MPs 1970–1974 Military personnel from New York City British Army personnel of World War II Sons of life peers