Finsberg; Geoffrey (1926 1996); Baron Finsberg; politician

Comprises material concerning Finsberg's work for his constituency, as a local councillor and for the Hampstead area in general; papers relating to his work for London, as a Parliamentary politician and with the Conservative Party; papers concerning the Council of Europe and the Western European Union; general correspondence, photographs and family papers. Also includes some papers of his wife Lady Pamela Finsberg, and of the Hampstead and Highgate Conservative Association and the Young Conservatives.

Born 1926; educated at the City of London School; founder chairman, Mansfield Young Conservatives 1946-1947; national chairman, Young Conservatives 1954-1957; member, Executive Committee of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations 1953-1979; chairman of the Greater London Area Conservative Local Government Committee 1972-1975; vice-chairman of the Conservative Party Organisation 1975-1979 and 1983-1987; borough councillor, Hampstead Borough Council 1949-1964; borough councillor, Camden Borough Council 1964-1974 (leader, 1968-1970); deputy chairman, Association of Municipal Corporations 1969-1971, and vice-president 1971-74; parliamentary candidate (Conservative), Islington East 1955; Conservative MP, Hampstead 1970-1983; Conservative MP, Hampstead and Highgate 1983-1992; member, Executive Committee 1922 Committee 1974-1975; member, Parliamentary Select Committee on Expenditure 1970-1979; Opposition spokesman on Greater London 1974-1979; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Education 1979-1981; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security 1981-1983; member, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 1983-1992 (President 1991-1992); member, Western European Union 1983-1992 (leader, British delegation 1987-1992); deputy chairman, Commission for New Towns 1992-1996; Controller of Personnel and Chief Industrial Relations Adviser, Great Universal Stores 1968-1979; Deputy Chairman, South East Regional Board of the Trustees' Savings Bank 1986-1989; member, Council of the Confederation of British Industry 1968-1979; member, Post Office Users National Council 1970-1977; Joint National Honorary Secretary, Council of Christians and Jews; patron, Maccabi Association of Great Britain; trustee, Marie Curie Cancer Foundation; governor, University College School; JP, Inner London 1962-1996; MBE 1959; Knight 1984; life peer 1992.

Arranged by subject into eleven series: 1. Hampstead Constituency Papers concerning the Hampstead area and the Hampstead and Highgate Conservative Association, correspondence with constituents and local organisations 2. London, Parliamentary and Conservative Party Politics Papers concerned with Finsberg's work on the London County Council, the Greater London Council and with other general London issues. Papers concerning Finsberg's work as a Member of Parliament on general political issues Papers concerning the Conservative Party 3. Europe Papers concerning Finsberg's work for the Council of Europe, the Western European Union and other European organisations 4. Non-Political Papers Papers concerning Finsberg's work outside of politics, including business posts and work on various committees 5. Correspondence Correspondence of Finsberg and Pamela Finsberg. Includes personal letters, letters sent by Finsberg to Pamela Finsberg whilst on visits abroad, correspondence concerning Conservative Party affairs and correspondence concerning functions and events 6. Engagements Invitations to official events and functions, occasionally with replies Lists of official diary engagements Invitations to events held by Finsberg 7. Photographs Family photographs, holiday photographs and photographs of official functions and events 8. Family and Personal Papers concerning social events, Finsberg's engagement and wedding, diaries and various family papers 9. Papers of Pamela Finsberg Business, investment and personal finance papers, personal correspondence, papers concerning work on health issues, diaries 10. Hampstead and Highgate Conservative Association Papers of the Association concerning: General Elections Borough Council Elections London County Council and Greater London Council Elections Press cuttings Various miscellaneous papers 11. Young Conservatives Papers concerning the Young Conservatives and Unionist Organisation.

Mainly open; some items closed

Printed handlist; online catalogue. Catalogued as part of the Foyle Foundation Project by Frank Bowles, July 2007

Sources: Who's Who 1897-1996 (A & C Black, 1996); British Library On-Line Public Access Catalogue 97. Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

Most items can be photocopied, subject to handling and copyright restrictions.

Given by Lord Geoffrey Finsberg in 1991 and 1992.

The BLPES holds further material relating to Lord Geoffrey Finsberg in the papers of AEGIS (Ref: AEGIS/1/6, 2/3, and 7/17), election ephemera (Ref: Coll Misc 0321/1/3, 0738/1/31, 0672/3/2, 26, 32, 0692/8/7, and 0711/711/2), and the papers of Neville Devonshire Sandelson (9/4, 11/12, and 12/16).