§ 2.35 p.m.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT JOWITT)My Lords, the noble Viscount the Leader of the House, who to his great regret is unable to be present to-day, has asked me to say these few words on his behalf. The death of Lord Londonderry will be mourned not merely by members of this House but by a far wider circle of friends outside it, for he combined, to a rare degree, the qualities of a great figure in the social life of the country and of a man distinguished in his political life by the many offices he had held. He possessed a personal charm of character which endeared him to all who knew him. He had a gift of simple and loyal friendship which took no account of differences in rank and station. If your Lordships want evidence of this fact, you will find it in the abiding respect and affection of those who worked under him in the many offices which he held in political life. I do not pretend that I agreed with his political outlook, but no one—least of all myself—could cast a doubt on the sincerity of the standards which prompted him. He was ever ready to give the greatest consideration to opinions which did not coincide with those which he himself held.
Before he came to your Lordships' House he was a Member of the House of Commons for a number of years, then served in the 1914–18 war, during which he was twice mentioned in despatches. In this House he held a number of posts—First Commissioner of Works, Secretary of State for Air and, finally, Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House, a leadership distinguished for his strict maintenance of the spirit and traditions of the House and by an invariable courtesy to all who came in contact with him. My Lords, a link has been severed with the old spacious days by the passing of a great figure from the social, sporting 748 and political life of the nation. We extend our sympathy to those he has left, and we share their sorrow.
§ VISCOUNT SWINTONMy Lords, we remember to-day one who, as the noble and learned Viscount the Lord Chancellor has said, was a brave figure in our public life and a personal friend of so many of us. Born and bred in a long tradition of public service, his own record was remarkable: soldier and airman; eleven years' service in the House of Commons; more than thirty years in this House, during part of which time he was its Leader and held many ministerial posts; Chancellor of two universities, one in England, the other in Ireland; a model landlord and a very progressive colliery owner. That would have been a remarkable record of achievement in a man whose whole and sole interest lay in politics and in public affairs. I think it is all the more praiseworthy in one who had an extraordinary zest for life in town and country, and whose great possessions afforded him every opportunity of satisfying those agreeable tastes in the most beautiful surroundings. It was that very zest for life which contributed so much to his success and which made for him a host of friends.
If I were asked to name Charlie Londonderry's outstanding characteristics, I would say they were courage, kindliness and youth. His courage made him avid of new adventure. He became a pilot at an age when many experienced airmen think it time they should be grounded, and his untimely death was the result of a gliding accident. His generous kindness, in things great and small, seemed second nature. The world knew of his great benefactions. It is probably known to many of your Lordships that during a deep industrial depression he kept open for two years a pit that lost him £1,000 a week. For two years, at his own expense, he kept that pit open, just because he recognised his duty as an employer and because, out of his personal generosity, he did not wish to add to the sorrow and trouble of those times. Generous actions like that, which were known to the public, were matched, as I know, by countless unknown actions of friendship and generosity. His youth was eternal. With all his long and varied experience, it could be said of him in 749 the best and happiest sense of John Buchan's words:
In you I think the boy is not over.Now, that life, so full alike of friendship and of service to his country, is ended. Our sympathy goes out to his family, and especially to her who was the vivid partner in all his enterprises.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELMy Lords, noble Lords on these Benches would wish to join in the tributes so fittingly rendered by the Lord Chancellor and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Underlying the many striking qualities of Lord Londonderry there was one in particular—namely, that he was throughout a man of good will. In personal intercourse, in industrial affairs and in political life the impression he gave was of one who was anxious in a spirit of friendliness to fulfil his duties, and to fulfil them rightly. He was for over forty years in Parliament—by far the greater part of that time in your Lordships' House—and he took throughout an active part in the often troubled, and sometimes stormy, events of that long period. As we all know, he specialised in what were then the new problems of aviation. In that sphere he kept himself abreast of the times, and was often ahead of them. In office he was a conscientious administrator. In the long discussions on the coal industry he was one of the coal owners of genuinely progressive views. We who are Liberals found ourselves often in disagreement with him on mans of the main controversial issues of our times, but that in no way lessened the liking which we—as everyone—felt for his personality, or our respect for his character and our admiration for his sincerity and unfailing good will. To Lady Londonderry, and to his family, your Lordships would wish to offer respectful sympathy.
§ LORD BRABAZON OF TARAMy Lords, Lord Londonderry played many parts on the stage of English life. All I am here for to-day is to pay a just tribute to him for his work on the civil side of aviation. He was the first of the Air Ministers to have the vision of encouraging civil aviation to try and turn the gift of flight into a blessing instead of a curse. No wonder he was a hero in the eyes of many who had seen so much effort and sacrifice go towards creating an armament, rather than a binding force 750 that should bring peoples closer together! He did all he could to help the "little man" in his small machine; he owned and flew one himself, and his was a great example. In the Councils of the Royal Aero Club, and in the International Federation I know how helpful and welcome he was. In this changing world, it was through his vision and his generosity that the famous Londonderry House lives on, still in high distinction, as the great centre of all matters to do with private flying. There will be no one piloting a private machine who will not dip in deep respect at the passing of a great patron and also—if the pilot ever had the fortune to know Lord Londonderry—at the loss of a much loved friend.