The Brimelow Papers

Scope and Content

Most of the material in this collection comprises photocopies accumulated by Lord Brimelow for his account of the Yalta Repatriation Agreements. Also included is correspondence relating to an article written by Dr Joan Beaumont, on the sale of Rolls-Royce engines to the Soviet Union in 946 and 1947. Principal correspondents are Lord Robin Hankey and Christopher Booker. Also included is one box of personal files relating to security, insurance companies, furniture purchased by Thomas Brimelow for his flat in Millfield Lane, inventories of furniture and a lease agreement on the flat, his membership of the Athenaeum, and also papers relating to his title and to the House of Lords.

Administrative / Biographical History

This collection comprises material collected by Lord Thomas Brimelow (1915-1995) for an account of the Yalta Repatriation Agreements that he was planning to write during his retirement.

Thomas Brimelow's career can be summarized in brief as follows: he was educated at New Mills Grammar School, and went on to Oriel College Oxford, eventually becoming Laming Travelling Fellow of the Queen's College, Oxford in 1937. During his early career he served in the diplomatic service in Danzig, Riga, New York and Moscow. In 1948 Brimelow was appointed First Secretary (Commercial) and Consul in Havana. He subsequently served in the following posts: Counsellor (Commercial), Ankara, 1954; Head of Northern Department of the Foreign Office, 1956; Councillor Washington, 1960-63; Minister, British Embassy, Moscow, 1963-66; Ambassador to Poland, 1966-69; Deputy Under-Secretary of State, FCO, 1969-73; Permanent Under-Secretary, FCO, and Head of the Diplomatic Service, 1973-75. He was a member of the European Parliament from 1977 to 1978. Thomas Brimelow was awarded an OBE in 1959, and created Life Peer, Baron of Tyldesley, Lancashire in 1976. He was a member of the Athenaeum club.

Arrangement

  • Boxes 1-2: Soviet foreign policy: notes and correspondence
  • Box 3: Sale of Rolls-Royce aeroengines to the Soviet Union in 1946 and 1947
  • Box 4: The obligation to carry out an agreement; war criminals; correspondence with Christopher Booker
  • Box 5: Notes by Lord Brimelow regarding repatriation
  • Boxes 6-19: Photocopies of source material, typescripts and notes by Lord Brimelow for a book on the Yalta Repatriation Agreements
  • 1 Box of miscellaneous and personal files: personal security; Spiraline Ltd; Portals Water Ltd; Adjustamatic; Athenaeum; some photos; an inventory of the flat in Millfield Lane, Highgate; and papers relating to Lord Brimelow's title, and the House of Lords
  • 1 file of photocopies

Access Information

By written application to either the Librarian or Deputy Librarian. A letter of introduction may be required and prospective users will be obliged to sign an undertaking outlining the terms and conditions of access to the research materials.

Acquisition Information

Mr. Malcolm Baylin of the BBC's News and Current Affairs Department.

Note

This record was compiled by David Borg-Muscat, UK Data Archive, using entries from:

Albert Sloman Library (2000) A Note on Special Collections, (University of Essex: Albert Sloman Library), p. 5.

Record entered by Nadeem Ahmad of Qualidata, UK Data Archive, University of Essex.

Other Finding Aids

A record for all materials in the Special Collection is available via the Albert Sloman Library, Special Collections web page.

Conditions Governing Use

No part of the Special Collections material may be reproduced, published, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Albert Sloman Library. This may be obtained by application to the Librarian or Deputy Librarian.

Appraisal Information

In consultation with academic colleagues, the library special collections acquisitions staff evaluate collections by assessing their relevance to the teaching and research interests of the University.

Accruals

No further material will be added.

Additional Information

University of Essex: Albert Sloman Library.