Peter Lovell Lovell-Davis, Baron Lovell-Davis (born Peter Lovell Davis; 8 July 1924 – 6 January 2001) was a British publishing executive and politician. He was influential in the success of the 1964, 1966 and 1974 general election campaigns for the Labour Party, and his association with

Harold Wilson James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx (11 March 1916 – 23 May 1995) was a British statesman and Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, from 1964 to 1970 and again from 197 ...

saw him raised to the peerage to serve in government between 1974 and 1976.

Early life and publishing career

Davis was born on 8 July 1924 to William Lovell Davis and Winifred Mary Davis. He was educated at

Christ's College, Finchley Christ's College is a secondary school with academy status in East Finchley, London, United Kingdom. It falls under the London Borough of Barnet Local Education Authority for admissions. Since September 2018, Christ’s College Finchley has off ...

and

King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon The Grammar School of King Edward VI at Stratford-upon-Avon (commonly referred to as King Edward VI School or shortened to K.E.S.) is a grammar school and academy in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, traditionally for boys only. Since S ...

before joining an RAF officer training course in 1943. He qualified as a

Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the ...

pilot and saw service during

World War II 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 ...

. He left the RAF in 1947 after reaching the rank of flight lieutenant and returned to study English at

Jesus College, Oxford Jesus College (in full: Jesus College in the University of Oxford of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship ...

. After writing for the Oxford student magazine ''

Isis Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingdom () as one of the main characters of the Osiris myth, in which she resurrects her sla ...

'' during his studies, he joined Central Press Features. With Davis as Managing Director (1952–1970), the agency "flourished" with its political commentary syndicated around the world.

Politics

Soon after the 1959 general election, Davis met

, a member of the Labour Party's National Executive, and tried to persuade him to get the party to use modern techniques in advertising, market research and television campaigning. Though he was unsuccessful at first, the Executive were eventually persuaded. Davis, together with David Kingsley and

Dennis Lyons Dennis "Joe" Lyons (26 August 1916 – 29 March 2011) was a British scientist who researched topics ranging from rockets to roundabouts. He led the research of the Blue Streak and Black Knight rockets that were developed at the Royal Aircraft Es ...

, became unpaid advisers to the party known as the "Three Wise Men" and helped with the success of the

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 – In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patria ...

and

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

campaigns, employing Bob Worcester of

MORI Mori is a Japanese and Italian surname. It is also the name of two clans in Japan, and one clan in India. Italian surname * Camilo Mori, Chilean painter * Cesare Mori, Italian "Iron Prefect" * Claudia Mori, Italian actress, singer, televisio ...

to carry out public opinion surveys for them. The campaign ahead of the 1970 election was criticised as distastefully personal and Wilson vetoed it; Labour went on to lose. He maintained close links with Wilson, and the successful campaign for the February 1974 election saw Wilson's return to government. Davis accepted a

life peer In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. Life peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. With the exception of the D ...

age and on 26 June 1974 he was created Baron Lovell-Davis, of

Highgate Highgate is a suburban area of N postcode area, north London in the London Borough of Camden, London Boroughs of Camden, London Borough of Islington, Islington and London Borough of Haringey, Haringey. The area is at the north-eastern corner ...

in Greater London. He served under Wilson in the Labour government as a

Lord-in-waiting Lords-in-waiting (male) or baronesses-in-waiting (female) are peers who hold office in the Royal Household of the sovereign of the United Kingdom. In the official Court Circular they are styled "Lord in Waiting" or "Baroness in Waiting" (without ...

from 1974, becoming Under-Secretary of State for Energy in 1975. In 1976, following Wilson's resignation and

James Callaghan Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff ( ; 27 March 191226 March 2005) was a British statesman and Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the L ...

's succession as Prime Minister, Lovell-Davis was sacked along with a number of other Wilson supporters. He subsequently served as a member of the

Commonwealth Development Corporation British International Investment plc, (formerly CDC Group plc, Commonwealth Development Corporation, and Colonial Development Corporation) is the development finance institution of the UK government. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Off ...

board (1978–1984), a member of the London Consortium (1978–1988), and Vice-President of the Youth Hostels Association (1978–2001). He was a trustee of the Whittington Hospital Academic Centre (1980–2001) and of the Museum of the Port of London and Docklands (1985–1998), and he was chairman of Lee Cooper Licensing Services (1983–1990), and Pettifor, Morrow & Associates (1986–1999).

Personal life

In 1950 he married Jean Graham (1929–2020), after they met at Oxford. Lady Lovell-Davis became a children's broadcaster. She was director of the National Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital, founded in 1961, focused on improving parental care and contact for young patients. They had two children: * Stephen (b.1955), a photographer * Catherine (b.1958) Peter Lovell-Davis died on 6 January 2001 and his ashes were buried on the western side of

Highgate Cemetery Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in North London, England, designed by architect Stephen Geary. There are approximately 170,000 people buried in around 53,000 graves across the West and East sides. Highgate Cemetery is notable both for so ...

.Highgate Cemetery records, square 54, grave no. 52310

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lovell-Davis, Peter Lovell-Davis, Baron 1924 births 2001 deaths Burials at Highgate Cemetery People educated at King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon Alumni of Jesus College, Oxford Royal Air Force officers British World War II pilots British newspaper publishers (people) Labour Party (UK) life peers Labour Party (UK) Baronesses- and Lords-in-Waiting Life peers created by Elizabeth II