John Cowburn Beavan, Baron Ardwick (9 April 1910 – 18 August 1994) was a British journalist, Labour life peer and Member of the European Parliament. Born to a Welsh father in Ardwick, Manchester, he began his journalistic career in local newspapers before a long associations with the The Guardian and Mirror. He was a staunch Labour supporter and was appointed as a life peer by Harold Wilson in 1970, namely to represent journalism in the House of Lords.

Early life and education

Beavan was a son of Silas Morgan Beavan (of Welsh origin and a grocer, according to censuses) and Emily Esther (née Hussey); and was educated at Manchester Grammar School.[1]

Career

Beavan was reporter of the Manchester Evening News, becoming its editor in 1943. Between 1946 and 1955, he was London editor of The Guardian.[2] For two years, 1960 to 1962, he was editor of the Daily Herald, then becoming political advisor to the Mirror Group, a post he retained until 1976.[3] He was a Labour Member of the European Parliament from 1975 to 1979.[2]

On 16 January 1970, he was created a life peer as Baron Ardwick, of Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.[4]

Personal life

He married Gladys Jones in 1934 by whom he had two children. By Anne Symonds, a BBC World Service journalist, he was also the father of Matthew Symonds.[5] Symonds' daughter Carrie is the spouse of the former discredited Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, a Conservative.[6]

Arms

Coat of arms of John Beavan, Baron Ardwick
Coronet
A Coronet of a Baron
Crest
A Cock criant standing upon a hand mirror Proper the frame and handle Or.
Escutcheon
Or a dragon passant between two roses Gules barbed and seeded proper in chief and in base on a pile reversed Gules an Owl Argent.
Supporters
On either side a representation of an angel holding in the superior hand a shepherd's crook Proper.
Motto
IN OMNIA PARATUS (Prepared In All Things)

References

  1. ↑ 2007 "Ardwick, Baron cr 1970 (Life Peer), of Barnes, (John Cowburn Beavan) (29 April 1910–18 Aug. 1994)." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 26 Jul. 2019
  2. 1 2 Terence Lancaster Obituary: Lord Ardwick, The Independent, 19 August 1994
  3. ↑ Dennis Griffiths (ed) The Encyclopedia of the British Press, 1422–1992, London & Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1992, p,97
  4. ↑ "No. 45021". The London Gazette. 16 January 1970. p. 658.
  5. ↑ 2018 "Symonds, Matthew John, (born 20 Dec. 1953), Executive Director, Lawrence Ellison Foundation, since 2018." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 26 Jul. 2019
  6. ↑ ITV Report, Carrie Symonds: Who is Boris Johnson's partner? at itv.com dated 22 June 2019, accessed 24 June 2019
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