§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Lord Peart)My Lords, the sudden death of the noble Viscount, Lord Cobham, is a shock to his many friends in the House and I should like to take this opportunity of paying tribute to his memory. We have lost a most congenial friend, an entertaining speaker, and a notable sportsman. The people of New Zealand in particular have lost a devoted servant.
Charles Cobham was a man of widespread talents. He shone at cricket in which he maintained the family tradition by captaining Worcestershire in the 1930s, and he was vice-captain of the MCC touring team to New Zealand in 1935. After the war he became President of the MCC, and kept a watchful eye on the wellbeing of English cricket from his house in the shadow of Lords Cricket Ground. This, together with his interest in golf and the Outward Bound Movement, which I am glad to say was associated with my Cumbria, was one of the qualities which led to his being chosen as chairman of a major Select Committee of this House on the subject of Sport and Leisure in 1972.
He played a leading part in the affairs of his home county, Worcestershire, which he loved deeply, and before his father's death in 1949 he was for a short time Conservative candidate for Dudley and Stourbridge.
But his main achievement was as Governor-General of New Zealand from 1957–62. He was the first civilian to hold the post after a long line of Service officers and he fully justified his appointment by proving to be one of the most popular Governor-Generals the country has ever had. He took a keen personal 234 interest in the country's affairs and enlivened all his actions with his sparkling wit and good humour.
After his return to this country he became a Knight of the Garter and from 1967–72 was Lord Steward of Her Majesty's Household. On retirement from this post, he was then able to take part in the work of this House and to cheer us with his great charm and elegant turn of phrase. His death is a cause for great sadness and I am sure that the whole House will want to join me in expressing our deepest sympathy with his widow and children.
§ Lord CARRINGTONMy Lords, I should like to associate those who sit on this side of the House with the most appropriate tribute paid by the Leader of the House to Lord Cobham, and I do so with particular sadness because he was a personal friend and colleague. As the Leader of the House has reminded your Lordships, he was a man of many parts: a sportsman—cricket, Worcestershire and Vice-Captain of England; a scholar—and he was a considerable scholar; a soldier; a businessman; a Parliamentarian—he was once a Parliamentary candidate; an administrator, Governor-General and courtier.
My Lords, those of us who knew him know that everything he did he did with vigour and gusto and enthusiasm, and whether it was cricket or an after dinner speech he took an infinity of trouble. Your Lordships will remember his chairmanship of the Select Committee on Sport and Leisure. My noble friend Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal was a member of that Committee and he has told me how good Lord Cobham was in that position.
I was fortunate enough to stay with him on two occasions when he was Governor-General of New Zealand. There may be some people who think it is easy to be a Governor-General; I do not think it is. He certainly was an outstanding Governor-General. Everywhere he went he made his mark. I think I am right in saying—I do not think it is apocryphal—that when the MCC visited New Zealand he arranged for the Governor-General's team to play them, and he offered a crate of champagne for the batsman who made the quickest 50. And he won the crate of 235 champagne! That cannot have done him very much harm! I know at first hand that wherever he went in New Zealand he was admired and held in great affection. He certainly was one of the most public-spirited people I have ever met, but perhaps even more than that he was funny and fun to be with. He was greatly loved by all who knew him and we send our sympathy to Lady Cobham and his children.
§ Lord BYERSMy Lords, we on these Benches would certainly endorse everything that has been said by the two noble Lords who have just spoken. The House is deeply saddened at the sudden death of the noble Viscount, Lord Cobham, after a most distinguished life of public service. I got to know him fairly well when I served under his chairmanship on the Select Committee for Sport and Leisure and on occasions had to take his place as chairman when he suffered from continuing illness during that period. I can attest to the fact that he was a remarkably good chairman, with a deep knowledge of the subjects we found we had to examine. Added to that, his wit and humour and his courtesy with witnesses made him a perfect chairman. The House has lost a good friend and a very efficient colleague. We send our deepest sympathy to his widow and his children.