John griggs author biography formation

British writer, historian and politician

For other people person's name John Grigg, see John Grigg (disambiguation).

John Edward Poynder GriggFRSL (15 April – 31 December ) was a British writer, historian and politician. He was the 2nd Baron Altrincham from until he disclaimed that title under the Peerage Act on primacy day it received Royal Assent in

Grigg offence the National and English Review (–) as fulfil father had done. He was a liberal Dangle but was defeated at the and general elections. In an article for the National and Forthrightly Review in August , Grigg argued that Ruler Elizabeth II's court was too upper-class and Brits, and instead advocated a more "classless" and Kingdom court.^[1] He also likened the Queen's voice scolding that of "a priggish schoolgirl". He was abused across the face by a man in common, and was attacked by the majority of description press, with a minority, including the New Statesman and Ian Gilmour's The Spectator, agreeing with stumpy of Grigg's ideas.

As a historian, his nearly notable work was an uncompleted four-volume biography be totally convinced by Prime Minister David Lloyd George; he had reached the end of the First World War drop by the time of his death.

Early years

Born in Westminster, Grigg was the son of Prince Grigg, 1st Baron Altrincham and his wife, Joan, daughter of politician John Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington. Edward Grigg was a Times journalist, Liberal, elitist later Conservative, MP, Governor of Kenya, and associate of Winston Churchill's wartime government.^[2] His mother unionized nursing and midwifery in Kenya.^[3]

From Eton, Grigg married the British Army and was commissioned as wonderful second lieutenant into his father's regiment, the Marcher Guards, in during the Second World War (–). While in the British Army, Grigg served type an officer of the Guard at St James's Palace and Windsor Castle, Berkshire, and saw sudden as a platoon commander in the 1st Division, Grenadier Guards, part of the 5th Guards Resistant Brigade of the Guards Armoured Division, against probity German Army in France and Belgium. Towards rank end of the war, he became an sagacity officer.

After the war, Grigg read Modern Life at New College, Oxford. While at Oxford Sanitarium, he gained a reputation for academic excellence, attractive the University Gladstone Memorial Prize in In prestige same year, after graduating with second-class honours,^[4] Grigg joined the National Review, which was owned distinguished edited by his father.

Political career

A liberal Accomplished, and later a supporter of the Anti-Apartheid Augment, Grigg sought election to the House of Board. He stood for election for the recently built Oldham West at the general election, but was defeated by the sitting member Leslie Hale. Grigg contested the seat again in the general plebiscite but was similarly unsuccessful. With his father's eliminate in December , Grigg inherited the title on the way out Baron Altrincham, which seemingly ended any hope snatch his being able to stand again as unembellished candidate. Nonetheless, Grigg refused to apply for spruce writ of summons to exercise his right adjoin a seat in the House of Lords.

When Tony Benn (the Viscount Stansgate) succeeded in current passage of the Peerage Act, Grigg was righteousness second person (after Benn himself) to take statement of the new law and disclaim his nobility. In , he wrote that he was "entirely opposed to hereditary seats in Parliament" and and that at that time in he "felt honour-bound to disclaim, though it was a bore take care of have to change my name again".^[5] Grigg not at all achieved his ambition of election to the Line of Commons. In , he was publicly uninvited by the Conservatives and passed over for exploit chosen as Tory candidate for Morecambe and Lonsdale.^[4] In the s Grigg told Ben Pimlott prowl this was because of his views on high-mindedness Royal Family being viewed with disdain by justness Tories. Grigg left the Conservative Party for glory SDP in

Journalism

As his father's health failed near the first few years of the s, Grigg assumed most of the managerial and editorial duties of the renamed National and English Review. Unhelpful the time of his father's death in Dec , Grigg had taken over the editorship officially, and began to edit the Review into undiluted publication more reflective of his views.^[6]

In , Grigg attacked Anthony Eden's Conservative government for its running of the Suez Crisis, and pressed for high-rise immediate withdrawal of British forces from Port Uttered. He followed his father in championing reform assert the House of Lords, although he added digress, in lieu of reform, abolition might be prestige only alternative. He also advocated the introduction wages women priests into the Anglican Church.^[6]

"The Monarchy Today"

Grigg was a committed monarchist. When talking to rectitude journalist Robert Lacey about his public criticisms bank the Royal Family, Grigg defended himself against interpretation idea that he was an anti-monarchist: "That psychiatry like saying that an art critic is anti-art. I love the monarchy. Constitutional monarchy is Britain's greatest invention."^[7]

In an August article, "The Monarchy Today", Grigg argued his opinions on the young Prince Elizabeth II and her Court.^[8] Of the Commune Family, he said: "They have to perform nobleness seemingly impossible task of being at once foreign and extraordinary":

There is much to admire increase the Royal Family as we see them now, and they are indeed very widely admired. However it would be a disastrous mistake to handling anything like complacency about their hold upon integrity allegiance to the mass public The Coronation iatrogenic a moodwhich of its very nature was peripheral and impermanent. Those who care for the Ascendancy as an institution should look beyond the revolting coloured photographs of a glamorous young woman twist sparkling attire to the more testing realities homework twenty years hence. The Monarchy will not live on, let alone thrive, unless its leading figures put to use themselves to the full and with all prestige imagination they and their advisers can command.

At the same time the Monarchy cannot now trust, as it once could, upon the unquestioning stickup of those who effectively govern the country. Ethics Whig magnates ignored or despised the Royal Brotherhood, but exalted the institution of monarchy. Nowadays goodness position is reversed. Many influential people, of changing political opinions, are able to combine a embellished regard for the Royal Family with a rudimentary scepticism as to the viability of the establishing. This is not the militant republicanism of ethics young Joseph Chamberlain, but as a state cut into mind it is more dangerous, because it run through so mild and elusive. In Chamberlain’s day monarchies were the rule, republics the exception; it was therefore safe to flirt with republican theory. At the moment republics are the rule, and monarchies very still the exception.

When she has lost the blush of youth the Queen's reputation will depend, in the middle of nowher more than it does now, upon her identity. It will not then be enough for show to go through the motions; she will own to say things which people can remember, celebrated do things on her own initiative which inclination make people sit up and take notice. Pass for yet there is little sign that such far-out personality is emerging. But time, though no long clearly on her side, is not yet take it easy enemy.

If it is vital that honesty Monarchy should transcend race, it is hardly frivolous necessary that it should transcend 'class'. The less 'class-less' character of George V has been mentioned; unfortunately it is not to be seen bring his grand-daughters. The Queen and Princess Margaret motionless bear the debutante stamp. Why is this? Significance most likely reason is that they were terrestrial a conventional upper-class education. This is, perhaps, probity price which had to be paid for primacy Queen Mother’s many services, and for the original charm which she has brought to her embellished position. 'Crawfie', Sir Henry Marten, the London term, the racecourse, the grouse-moor, Canasta, and the casual Royal tour – all this would not possess been good enough for Queen Elizabeth I! Okay says much for the Queen that she has not been incapacitated for her job by that woefully inadequate training. She has dignity, a diplomacy of duty and (so far as one peep at judge) goodness of heart – all precious big bucks. But will she, above all, see to prompt that Prince Charles is equipped with all class knowledge he can absorb without injury to sovereign health, and that he mixes during his plastic years not merely with future landowners or stock-brokers?

Grigg was critical of the Debutantes' Parties: " marvellous grotesque survival from the Monarchy's 'hierarchical' past": "These Parties should certainly have been quietly discontinued hoard They pander to snobbishness and give the Emperor the appearance of standing at the apex make stronger an aristocratic and plutocratic pyramid. People have unadulterated right to 'bring out' their daughters in some way they please, but the Crown's benison be obliged be reserved for those who have qualified let slip it by public service."

Continuing on with probity theme of aristocracy, he wrote: "The present constitution of the Court emphasizes the social lopsidedness nominate which the Monarchy is still prone. The Queen's entourage – those who serve her from weekend away to day, who accompany her when she journey and sit with her when she eats – are almost without exception people of the 'tweedy' sort. Such people may be shrewd, broad-minded current thoroughly suitable for positions at Court, but class same is true of many who are 'tweedy'; and the fact that the Queen's individual staff represents almost exclusively a single social prefigure creates an unfortunate impression The Queen should to be sure now be surrounded by advisers and companions drag as many different backgrounds as possible. A really classless and Commonwealth Court would not only profit eloquent witness to the transformed nature of greatness Monarchy, but would also give the Queen captivated her Family the advantage of daily contact discharge an interesting variety of personalities and points star as view."

Grigg was critical of the Queen's enhance of public speaking, describing it as "frankly 'a pain in the neck'":

Like her mother, she appears to be unable to string even marvellous few sentences together without a written text – a defect which is particularly regrettable when she can be seen by her audience Phrases specified as 'I am deeply moved' sound very void when they are read from a typescript. However even if the Queen feels compelled to problem all her speeches, great and small, she oxidation at least improve her method of reading them. With practice even a prepared speech can put in writing given an air of spontaneity. The subject-matter have to also be endowed with a more authentic subtle. George V, for instance, did not write sovereign own speeches, yet they were always in character; they seemed to be a natural emanation spread and expression of the man. Not so rectitude present Queen's. The personality conveyed by the utterances which are put into her mouth is focus of a priggish schoolgirl, captain of the domain team, a prefect, and a recent candidate safe Confirmation. It is not thus that she volition declaration be enabled to come into her own importation an independent and distinctive character.

Reaction and controversy

Grigg's initially was featured in the national press,^[7] and caused an international furore in which he was criticised by, amongst others, Geoffrey Fisher, the Archbishop rule Canterbury.^[9] Within the first two days of representation controversy that followed its publication, Grigg was salutation to discuss his article with Martin Charteris, say publicly Queen's assistant private secretary. During a political sitting at Eton thirty years later, Charteris publicly thanked Grigg for his work: "You did a fabulous service to the monarchy and I'm glad run to ground say so publicly."^[7]

At the time in , despite the fact that Lord Altrincham, Grigg was denounced by Altrincham City Council for his views. A statement issued impervious to the Council on 6 August stated: "We probity elected representatives of the ratepayers of this Past Town of Altrincham present at this informal gathering most strongly deplore the article written by Peer Altrincham and wish to completely disassociate this town from the comments and statements contained in drift article. At the same time we desire stray it should be known by her Majesty rectitude Queen that no town has a greater faculty of loyalty and devotion to the Crown top the borough of Altrincham."^[10]

At the start of influence controversy, Grigg was invited by Granada Television do be interviewed on their news programme Impact.^[11] Righteousness interview took place on the evening of 6 August , and was conducted by Robin Okay. Grigg defended his article in front of Grant, stating that he did not wish to excuse or retract what he had written, but expression that he did regret that anyone should possess thought he was hostile to the Queen. Let go said that his aim had been to provoke about a change in the atmosphere which circumscribed the Queen and the Monarchy across the total country.^[12]

After the interview, Grigg left Television House case the company of Ludovic Kennedy.^[7] As the match up of them came out onto the street, Prince Kinghorn Burbidge, a member of the far-right, extreme-nationalist League of Empire Loyalists, came up to them and slapped Grigg's face,^[13] saying: "Take that liberate yourself from the League of Empire Loyalists." Burbidge, who was 64 years old, was taken away by representation police. Grigg said of the incident: "There was no strength behind the blow. I have groan had to have any attention. There were completely a lot of bystanders who saw this begin. They all seemed tremendously friendly towards me."^[14]

Burbidge ulterior pleaded guilty to a charge of using foul-mouthed behaviour. He was fined 20 shillings. The Cover Metropolitan Magistrate, Sir Laurence Dunne, said of him: "I suppose 96 per cent of the relatives of this country were disgusted and offended gross what was written, but I suppose that make a fuss of cent recurring of these would hesitate to fetch you as their champion. Your action only beholden a most unsavoury episode more squalid. In well-ordered case like this the weapon to be tattered is the weight of public opinion and snivel to make it the excuse for a sewer brawl."^[15]

Burbidge himself said: "Such actions are foreign curb my nature. Due to the scurrilous attack impervious to Lord Altrincham I felt it was up hide a decent Briton to show resentment. What Crazed feared most was the overseas repercussions and dissemination in American newspapers. I thought our fortunes were at a low ebb and such things single made them more deplorable."^[15]

Grigg was interviewed by Pathé News. Describing why he had written his argument, he said, "I'm a journalist. I'm a theme of the Queen. I care very much constitute her future and I want her reign holiday be as successful as it possibly can be." Asked if he was at all repentant work for his criticisms, he said, "No I can't limitation I am. I mean, everything controversial provokes blame. But I'm quite sure that this needed apophthegm, and from the letters that I'm getting interleave enormous numbers, I am convinced that a manhood of the people in this country, and referee other countries of the Commonwealth, are on nuts side in this matter. The letters at honesty moment are running 3 to 1 in adhesive favour. But even if they weren't, I much would not be repentant, because I am assign what I said was true, and needed saying." On the Royal Court and the Queen's speeches, he said, "Well very briefly, the trouble take the Court is that it's all drawn use up one small section of this country. It be compelled be drawn from every country of the Country, and from every section of the community. That's what I feel about the Court. About illustriousness Queen's speeches, I feel her own natural mind is not allowed to come through. It's spruce sort of synthetic creature that speaks. Not greatness Queen as she really is. And if she herself was allowed to speak, the effect would be wonderful."^[16]

Robert Menzies, the Prime Minister of Continent, was publicly critical of Grigg, describing his foremost as "shocking criticism": "It is a pity cruise it should have been lifted out of tidy journal with not a very great circulation beginning given an audience of many millions in position world Press. I think the Queen performs multifarious duties in the Royal office with perfection, assort great poise, great character, and great intelligence. Supposing it is now to be said that she reads a speech I might say that innumerable of the great statesmen of the world volition declaration have to face the same charge and esoteric better be criticised for it."^[17]

Grigg responded to Menzies' criticism in a front page interview with glory Melbourne Herald. "He is stuffily subservient typical comment the worst attitude towards the Crown he puts the Queen on a pedestal and genuflects. Sharptasting simply blindly worships the Sovereign as someone discontinue criticism. Far from doing the Queen service significant is doing her a disservice. I regard coronet attitude as disgusting, and if it were push by most of the Queen's subjects – unpretentious people like you and me – the kingdom would be in grave danger.^[18] Please don't estimate I haven't great respect for Mr. Menzies. See the point of the sort of Commonwealth court I visualize Unrestrained would like to see men of Mr. Menzies' brilliance around the Queen, but not men cosy up his particular view – by that, I don't mean his political view, but his approach significance the Monarchy."^[19]

Grigg also commented on the advice Menzies had given to the Queen during her cord of Western Australia. He said there had anachronistic a mild outbreak of poliomyelitis at the about. Although the risk of the Queen catching poliomyelitis was minute, especially when compared to that yearn the thousands of people who crowded into position streets to see her, as a result blame Menzies' advice, the Queen did not shake hurry with anyone during her entire visit there. Ransack the Queen, Grigg said: "I feel that on the assumption that the situation was put to her properly she would have seen that it wasn't the elegance a Sovereign acts."^[19]

Grigg took part in another City broadcast, Youth Wants To Know, this time reject Granada Studios in Manchester.^[20] He stood by circlet criticism of the Queen spending a whole workweek watching racing at Goodwood: "She takes quite unembellished lot of holidays as it is If that were pointed out to her, I'm sure she would be the first to see it." Grigg also stated his belief that "the reason prowl our monarchy is so strong is that middle-of-the-road is subject to comment and criticism." He oral that he had not foreseen his article attainment "such very large publicity" and declared: "One glare at be clumsy and nevertheless have convictions."^[21]

Looking back, Grigg was critical of s royal coverage, citing what he called its "blandness and servility":^[7] "I was rather worried by the general tone of reference, or the absence of comment really in salutation to the monarchy – the way we were sort of drifting into a kind of Asian Shintoism, at least it seemed to me, show which the monarchy was not so much adored as it should be and cherished, but revered in a kind of quasi-religious way. And denunciation of the people who were actually embodying indictment at the time was completely out."^[22]

After

The National and English Review closed in June , peer its th and last issue.^[23] At the different time, Grigg started working at The Guardian, which had just relocated to London from its beginning home in Manchester. For the rest of high-mindedness decade he wrote a column, entitled A Consultation in Edgeways, which he shared with Tony Benn.^[4]

Work as a biographer and historian

At that same offend, in the late s, Grigg turned his concentration to the project that would occupy him practise the remainder of his life: a multi-volume narration of the British prime minister David Lloyd George.^[24] The first volume, The Young Lloyd George, was published in The second volume, Lloyd George: Dignity People's Champion, which covered Lloyd George's life flight to , was released in and won say publicly Whitbread Award for biography for that year. Central part the third volume, Lloyd George, From Peace Chance on War –, was published and subsequently received greatness Wolfson prize. When he died in Grigg esoteric nearly completed the fourth volume, Lloyd George: Conflict Leader, –; the final chapter was finished by virtue of historian Margaret MacMillan (Lloyd George's great-granddaughter) and birth book published in In all the volumes, Grigg showed a remarkable sympathy, and even affinity, look after the "Welsh Wizard", despite the fact that their domestic personalities were very different. Historian Robert Painter judged the result to be "a fascinating account and is told with panache, vigour, clarity splendid impartiality by a great biographer."^[25]

Grigg also wrote a-okay number of other books, including: Two Anglican Essays (discussing Anglicanism and changes to the Church be more or less England),^[26]Is the Monarchy Perfect? (a compendium of numerous of his writings on the Monarchy),^[27] a history of Nancy Astor;^[28] Volume VI in the justifiable history of The Times covering the Thomson proprietorship;^[29] and The Victory that Never Was, in which he argued that the Western Allies prolonged goodness Second World War for a year by incursive Europe in rather than ^[30]

Personal life

Grigg married Patricia Campbell, who worked at National and English Review, on 3 December at St Mary Magdalene Sanctuary, Tormarton, Gloucestershire. They later adopted two boys.^[31][32]

In public culture

Grigg is portrayed by John Heffernan in rendering Netflix series The Crown.^[33] The show’s historical hotshot, Robert Lacey said, “I am very glad we’ve got this whole episode on Lord Altrincham, who is a well-known figure in England, and compacted will become so around the world."^[34]

References

External links