THE CLERK OF THE PARLIAMENTS (Hansard, 27 October 1953)

HL Deb 27 October 1953 vol 183 cc1368-76 1368

§ 2.36 p.m.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD SIMONDS)
My Lords, I have to read to your Lordships' House a letter which I have received from Sir Robert Overbury, dated the 1st October, 1953. It is in these terms:

§ "DEAR LORD CHANCELLOR,

§ "It is with very great regret that in accordance with precedent I ask your Lordship to announce to the House that I have tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister.

§ "I served under successive Lord Chancellors since I was appointed to a clerkship in the Supreme Court in 1910, and I have held a post at the Table of the House for nineteen years, for the last four of which I have had the privilege and honour of holding the office of Clerk of the Parliaments.

§ "I would ask you to be good enough to express to their Lordships my very deep appreciation of the kindness and consideration which I have invariably received from all quarters of the House during the time I have served the House.

§ "Your sincerely.

§ ROBERT OVERBURY:"

§ My Lords, I beg to move that the letter be taken into consideration forthwith.

§ Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (VISCOUNT WOOLTON)
My Lords, it will be a matter of regret in all parts of the House that my noble friend Lord Salisbury should have been prevented by a minor indisposition from moving the Resolution which I have the honour to submit to you to-day—namely,"That this House has received with sincere concern the news of the retirement of Sir Robert Leslie Overbury, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, from the office of Clerk of the Parliaments, and thinks it right to record the just sense which it entertains of the zeal, ability, diligence 1369 and integrity with which the said Sir Robert Leslie Overbury has executed the important duties of his office during his tenure thereof." The noble Marquess the Leader of the House asked me to express his deep regret at his absence. He says that he, like the House, owes much to Sir Robert's experience and wise counsel, and that he would have liked to have the opportunity of expressing his thanks this afternoon and of wishing him well for the future.
The extent of Sir Robert's services must be entered in the Records of the Proceedings of this House. He entered the Lord Chancellor's Department in 1910, and served under successive Lord Chancellors in the Crown Office, as Secretary of Commissions of the Peace and as Chief Clerk. He was appointed Reading Clerk at the Table of the House in June, 1934, and promoted to Clerk Assistant in June, 1937, and he has been Clerk of the Parliaments since May, 1949. As he reads the Records of your Lordships proceedings to-day, we should like him to know how wide has been cur appreciation of the services that he has rendered tous. After almost twenty years' service at this Table, his knowledge of what is right and what is possible according to the practices of this House, has always been at the disposal of Members. That was his duty; but he has fulfilled it with so much patience and such obvious desire to help that he has placed all of us in his debt. I am sure that the noble Lords who sit on the Front Bench opposite will join with my colleagues on this Bench in expressing our gratitude to Sir Robert for the way in which he has so unobtrusively guided us around dangerous corners.
In paying tribute to the faithful services that Sir Robert has rendered to this House, I should like him to know that he has not only served us well, but that he has endeared himself both to your Lordships and to the staff of the House. We very greatly regret that the accident of some motorist should have injured him and prevented his attendance at the House since we resumed after the Recess. He retires from our service before the age prescribed in his Patent, and by so doing gives to other servants of the House the opportunity for advancement. This action is characteristic of the man who has earned the affection and the respect 1370 of all the servants of the House. We trust that he will speedily and completely recover from his injury, and that for many years he will enjoy, in good health, the retirement which he has earned. My Lords, I beg to move the Resolution.

§ Moved, to resolve, That this House has received with sincere concern the news of the retirement of Sir Robert Leslie Overbury, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, from the office of Clerk of the Parliaments, and thinks it right to record the just sense which it entertains of the zeal, ability, diligence and integrity with which the said Sir Robert Leslie Overbury has executed the important duties of his office during his tenure thereof.—(Viscount Woolton.)

§ 2.43 p.m.

§ EARL JOWITT
My Lords, on an occasion such as this there is no distinction between the Government and the Opposition: we speak and we act as a House, and I should like to express my entire concurrence with the observations which the noble Viscount has just made. Sir Robert Overbury was called upon to succeed a very remarkable man, the late Sir Henry Badeley, who afterwards became Lord Badeley, and who in both capacities was known as "Jack Badeley." One might have thought it was impossible to achieve success after Jack Badeley, but Sir Robert succeeded. He succeeded because he was wise enough not to try to copy his predecessor. By quiet, unassuming efficiency and care he endeared himself, as the noble Viscount has said, to the whole House. He took just as much pains in giving advice to the most humble Back Bencher (if, indeed, there are humble Back Benchers) on the Opposition side as he did to a prominent Member on the Government side. It always seemed to me that he had no ambition save this: that he would give of his very best to the service of this House—and that he certainly did.
This House has been extraordinarily fortunate in the servants it has had. They have commanded the respect and esteem of Members on both sides of the House. Perhaps I may be forgiven if I commit the irregularity of saying this afternoon that I anticipate that we shall be equally fortunate in the future. At the same time, it is a wrench to part with the services of Sir Robert Overbury. I am. 1371 sure that I express the wish of all your Lordships in saying that we wish him well in his retirement. I hope that from time to time we may see him here again, for of this I feel sure: if we grew to love the man, the man grew to love this House. Perhaps that was part of the secret of his success and of the hold which he had over us. I wish him every possible good wish in his retirement, and a speedy recovery from the unfortunate accident which for a time has laid him low.

§ 2.44 p.m.

§ VISCOUNT SIMON
My Lords, may I, as an unofficial Member of the House, be allowed to join with the two Front Benches in support of this Resolution? It is the unofficial Members of the House who feel especially grateful to Sir Robert Overbury for all the help and guidance which he invariably gave them. In nothing is the difference between the House of Commons and your Lordships' House more obvious than in the part which is played by what might be called the Table. I rather fancy that in this House the Lord Chancellor has no control over the Officers at the Table, though they work together very well. We ourselves govern our proceedings by our own notions of what is right and decent, and not infrequently we require to know whether some step which we thought of taking would be in accordance with the traditions of the House. These traditions are in a very special sense the concern of the Clerk of the Parliaments, and Sir Robert Overbury has always been available and ready to help in advising us, not only in what to do but also in the more difficult question of how to do it. I personally have the greatest gratitude to him for such help on many occasions. Without saying more, I join most warmly in the feelings of admiration, I think I may say and of affection, which we feel for Sir Robert. He is now giving way for a comrade to take his place, and I have no doubt that the traditions he has done so much to maintain and preserve will be safely entrusted to his successor in the seat of the Clerk of the Parliaments.

LORD REA
My Lords, one of the more melancholy aspects of your Lordships' House is that when a familiar face 1372 disappears from our midst it is more often than not the sad fact that contact will be re-established only in an even more august assembly than this—and then in strict order of rotation. Happily, today it is on a much less serious level that we bid a regretful farewell to the holder—but only as the holder—of an ancient and honourable office, who has worthily maintained the high tradition of his predecessors and to whom we all wish the enjoyment of a long and happy retirement.
Speaking not only for noble Lords in this quarter of the House, and for my noble Leader, Lord Samuel (who much regrets that he cannot be here), but also for those of your Lordships who, like myself, underwent their baptism of fire from the rest of your Lordships under the paternal eye of Sir Robert Overbury as Clerk of the Parliaments, I should like to pay tribute to his consistent helpfulness, to his logic and his learning and to his willingness at all times to give sympathetic hearing and kindly counsel. If I may, I should like to quote, by way of analogy, two or three lines from the Canterbury Tales: A Clerk there was (of Oxenford also) That into Logic hadde, long ago; For he would liefer have at his bed's head Twenty booker—clad in black and red. Tending to moral vertu was his speech And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach. I have great pleasure in supporting the Motion before your Lordships' House.

§ 2.50 p.m.

THE LORD BISHOP OF ELY
My Lords, it is my privilege to speak on behalf of the Archbishops and Bishops in support of the Motion that has been so ably proposed by the noble Viscount, Lord Woolton. It has been my lot on various occasions to introduce Bishops into this House, and I have always been frightened at the intricate ceremonial involved; but on every occasion I have received patience, courtesy and kindness from Sir Robert Overbury. I had the opportunity of seeing the Archbishop of Canterbury this morning, and he wished me specially to say that he was sorry he could not be here this afternoon. On behalf of their Graces and the Bishops I would associate myself with all that has been said.

1373

§ 2.52 p.m.

LORD O'HAGAN
My Lords, in rising to support the Motion that is before the House I can, of course, speak only for myself, but I believe I voice the opinion and feelings of many noble Lords on the Back Benches in this House in saying how much we appreciate all the work that Sir Robert has done while he occupied the important position that he held. Having been a Member of this House for a great number of years, I can recollect Clerks of the Parliaments from before the time when Sir Robert joined in the activities of the Lord Chancellor's office in 1910, so that I have had an opportunity of experiencing the work of Clerks of the Parliaments from before that date to the present time. I do not think, however, that any assurance is needed from me that the happy relations which traditionally have existed between the Clerk of the Parliaments and the Members of your Lordships' House have been not only maintained, but enhanced, by Sir Robert during his tenure of office. I cannot find words to express all that has so adequately been said by others before me as to our appreciation of his ability, kindness and knowledge. I have myself experienced his very wise advice, and at times, when I am sure it was necessary, his correction. On all the many occasions when Sir Robert was approached by Members on the Back Benches he evinced that courtesy, knowledge and wisdom which we all value, and which we have all come to recognise as part and parcel of the man himself. On my own behalf and, I venture to think, on behalf of many Back Benchers in this House, I should like to join in the tributes of praise and thankfulness to Sir Robert for his work during his tenure of office.

§ LORD SCHUSTER
My Lords, I trust that I may be forgiven if for a few minutes I protract this debate. My excuse must be that my knowledge of, and my working with, Sir Robert Overbury extends to a far longer period than that of any other Member of this House: it began, indeed, thirty-eight years ago. For the greater part of those thirty-eight years I have watched over his progress, from the time when I first came into contact with him, with sympathy, with pleasure and with friendship.
I first met Sir Robert when he was serving in the offices of the Courts in the 1374 Strand, and I was at once struck with his ability, his extraordinary balance of mind, and his capacity to state a case for others, both tenaciously, doing full justice to the case, and also with great respect to his opponent. He came thence to the Lord Chancellor's office, and served as my colleague through the years which the noble Viscount, Lord Woolton, has already mentioned—it is now so long ago that I cannot remember the dates. He came thence to the Table, and thence to the supreme place of the Clerkship of the Parliaments. During all that time he applied himself to the duties of his office without any ambition, without ever striving for promotion, solely with the object of doing the work which lay at his hand and doing it as thoroughly as it could be done, and with complete courtesy to those with whom he came into contact.
It is sometimes thought that this House is misrepresented to the world at large as a place of wealth and privilege. Sir Robert Overbury came with no wealth and with no privilege; and solely on merit he stepped from place to place, until, I believe with the universal acclaim of the House, and certainly with the universal acclaim of all those with whom he worked, he reached the post which we all wished him to attain—namely, the Clerkship of the Parliaments. I most deeply regret his retirement; I most deeply regret the unhappy circumstances which now afflict him. I venture to associate myself, so far as I have the right to do so, with what has already been said in his praise by noble Lords far more competent to address this House than I am.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DROGHEDA)
My Lords, the years pass so swiftly that it seems not four years ago, but yesterday, that we were congratulating Robert Overbury on his promotion in succession to our much loved friend, Jack Badeley. I can add nothing to the tributes that have been paid to the work of Robert Overbury in the House itself. But, of course, a great part of the work of the Clerk of the Parliaments is done behind the scenes. He is responsible for the administration of the staff of the House, and on him, more than anyone else, depends the happy working of the House. The staff of the House has been a happy one ever since I remember, but never more so than 1375 during the term of office of Robert Overbury. I should like to say to him, on behalf of all his colleagues, that we think he has done a grand job; and he will carry into his retirement the friendship, the affection and the esteem of every one of us.

§ 2.58 p.m.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR
My Lords, so many warm and sincere tributes have been paid to Sir Robert Overbury that little remains to be said; but your Lordships may think it proper that the Lord Chancellor, who is brought into such close and constant association with the Clerk of the Parliaments, should add a few words. Indeed, I have a special reason for associating myself with the warm tributes that have been paid: the occupant of the Woolsack is an isolated and conspicuous figure, and the errors of procedure that he may make are only too visible to the whole House. If the present occupant of the Woolsack has been fortunate enough to make few such errors, that has been due to the generous, ungrudging measure of support and help which has always been given to him by Sir Robert Overbury. I, for one, shall always remember with gratitude the way in which he has guided my steps in ways hitherto unknown to me. To what has fallen from your Lordships upon his general services to the House, I can add no words. I would only say that he departs from this place leaving behind him a host of friends who will remember him for his kindliness and friendship, as well as (and I use the words of the Motion) for "the zeal, ability, diligence, and integrity "with which he has performed the duties of his high office.

§ On Question, Motion agreed to, nemine dissentiente.

§ VISCOUNT WOOLTON
My Lords, I beg to move that the Lord Chancellor do communicate this Resolution to Sir Robert Overbury.

§ Moved, That the Lord Chancellor do communicate the said Resolution to Sir Robert Overbury.—(Viscount Woolton.)

§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.

§ VISCOUNT WOOLTON
My Lords, I beg to move, That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty laying before 1376 Her Majesty a copy of the letter of the said Sir Robert Leslie Overbury and likewise of the Resolution of this House, and recommending the said Sir Robert Leslie Overbury to Her Majesty's Royal Grace and Bounty.

§ Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to nemine dissentiente: the said Address to be presented to Her Majesty by the Lords with White Staves.

§ 3.1 p.m.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR
My Lords, I have to acquaint the House that Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint, by Letters Patent dated the twenty-seventh day of this instant October, Francis William Lascelles, Esquire, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, upon whom has been conferred the Decoration of the Military Cross, to the Office of Clerk of the Parliaments vacant by the retirement of Sir Robert Leslie Overbury, the late Clerk of the Parliaments.

THE EARL OF DROGHEDA
My Lords, I should not like this occasion to pass without saying to Francis Lascelles, on behalf of the whole staff, with what delight we have heard of his appointment. He is the friend of us all, and we know that he will maintain in every way the traditions which have been handed down to him by his distinguished predecessors. I know that the whole House will unite in wishing him a long and very happy term of office.
Patent read; and the said Francis William Lascelles, Esquire, C.B., then made the necessary declaration (which declaration is set down in the Roll amongst the oaths of the great officers), and took his seat at the Table.