ADMIRAL SIR COLIN KEPPEL (RETIREMENT). (Hansard, 22 October 1935)

§ The PRIME MINISTER
I beg to move, That Mr. Speaker be requested to acquaint Admiral Sir Colin Keppel, G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E., C.B., D.S.O., that this House entertains a just sense of the exemplary manner in which he has uniformly discharged the duties of the office of Serjeant-at-Arms, and has devoted himself to the service of the House for a period of twenty years. Shortly before the House rose for the Summer Recess hon. Members will remember the announcement made of the retirement of Sir Colin Keppel, the 13 Serjeant-at-Arms, and that I told the House that on reassembling I should move a Resolution and a Motion conveying the terms of the Resolution as the first Order On the Paper to-day. I always welcome an occasion when the House can speak in unity in its corporate capacity, as it will do this afternoon. I desire to say a few words—and only a few words—on the long and distinguished services which Sir Colin Keppel rendered to the House of Commons. As Members are well aware, the appointment of Serjeant-at-Arms is an appointment of His Majesty, but when he once takes office he becomes the servant of the House, and, indeed, in years past the House has proved that, for two and a-half centuries ago it sent a Serjeant-at-Arms to the Tower, and pleaded with the King that he would appoint another one. Times have changed since then and instead of the Tower we shall have to-day a unanimous resolution of gratitude and of thanks. It is a curious coincidence—I do not know whether it is a singular one—that Sir Colin Keppel received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament 36 years ago for distinguished naval services in Africa. The only case of a double honour of that kind that I can recall in recent years is that of my hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset (Viscount Cranborne) the Under-Secretary of State for League of Nations Affairs who has already, at his tender age, had two Acts passed, exonerating him and excusing him, by this House.
We have been singularly fortunate in the last 50 years that the responsible position of Serjeant-at-Arms has been held in succession by two great gentlemen. Of the duties of the Serjeant-at-Arms I will say nothing. They are to be found in Erskine May. They are multifarious, and on his successful performance of one side of his work the smooth running of a great deal of the House of Commons depends. But his other relationship to this House and to the Members of it is of a singularly intimate and personal character. Whoever may be the man who occupies the seat of the Serjeant-at-Arms, he can do much for either the comfort or the discomfort of Members of this House. During these 20 years what I have felt so strongly about our late Serjeant-at-Arms has been his possession of certain qualities which seemed to me to become more marked 14 as the years went by—qualities of unfailing courtesy, of kindliness of heart and of simplicity of character. These gifts in him were not acquired. They were natural, but they were strengthened and sweetened throughout a long life by their constant practice.
I would like at this point to say with what regret Members learn of the untimely death, a month ago, of the Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms, Captain Butcher. I mention that partly that his name may be recalled to-day but partly as an expression of sympathy with the new Serjeant-at-Arms, that he should enter on what to him must be, at first, a difficult task without the assistance of one who occupied the subordinate position for the last six years. Nevertheless, the new Serjeant-at-Arms may find an inspiration in the example of his predecessor, a predecessor who, by his devotion to the service of this House and by his character won, in a real manner, the respect, the admiration and, I may even add, the affection of every Member of this House from the oldest to the youngest.

§ Mr. ATTLEE
I desire, on behalf of the Opposition, to support very fully all that the Prime Minister has said with regard to our late Serjeant-at-Arms. I sometimes wonder when I see the Serjeant-at-Arms sitting there what he is thinking of all of us. I think he has a wonderful quality of patience to sit for so many years in this House where he can take no active part in the debates. I am sure every one of us must be conscious that in the late Serjeant-at-Arms we had a helpful friend. We are indebted to him for many courtesies and for much assistance. I regret, too, the untimely loss of the late Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms, and I join with the Prime Minister in hoping that the new Serjeant-at-Arms may long serve us with the same high distinction as did Sir Colin Keppel.

§ Sir HERBERT SAMUEL
Those who sit in this part of the House desire to associate themselves with what has been said by the Leader of the House and by the Leader of the Opposition. Sir Colin Keppel was marked by great dignity and courtesy and he was the most popular official of the House. We must all have viewed with sympathy, as the Leader of the Opposition has said, his fate in being required to listen to our 15 long and interminable debates. It required in the Serjeant-at-Arms the quality of unlimited endurance, and I am sure we ought all to be grateful to Sir Colin Keppel for his fortitude. We also desire to extend a cordial welcome to the new Serjeant-at-Arms. Each one of us, on his own behalf, or on behalf of his successor in the next Parliament, will wish well to the new incumbent of this ancient and honourable office.