Alistair The journalist

Background

Cooke was born on 20 April 1945, second son of Doctor Basil Cooke and Nancy Irene Cooke (née Neal).

Education

He was educated at the independent Framlingham College, Suffolk. He went on to study at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge, from which he graduated Master of Arts (Master of Arts) in 1970. He was a Lecturer and Tutor in Modern History at The Queen"s University of Belfast from 1971-1977 and was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy from that institution in 1979.

Career

Alistair Basil Cooke, Baron Lexden, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (born 20 April 1945), is a British historian, author and politician who sits as a Conservative life peer in the Lord Lexden has been official historian of the since 2009. Consultant and Editor in Chief, Conservative Research Department since 2004 and official historian and archivist of the Carlton Club since 2007. Early Life and Academic

Cooke worked as a desk officer within the Conservative Research Department from 1977-1983.

During this period he served as political advisor to Airey Neave, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 1977-1979.

He joined the Conservative Political Centre in 1983 as Assistant Director, becoming Deputy Director two years later and Director between 1988-1997. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 1988 New Year Honours.

Cooke was made a life peer as Baron Lexden, of Lexden in the County of Essex and of Strangford in the County of Down, on 23 December 2010 on the recommendation of Prime Minister David Cameron. He sits in the as a Conservative.

Lord Lexden"s website highlights his work in the Lords, including speeches, videos, letters and articles for numerous publications, including ConservativeHome and The House magazine.

With the Conservative return to opposition in 1997, Cooke worked as General Secretary of the Independent Schools Council from 1997–2004 and later became President of the Independent Schools Association. He has also been a Governor of The John Lyon School Harrow from 1999–2005 and Patron of the Northern Ireland Schools Debating Competition since 2001. He is a frequent contributor The Times Letters and Obituary pages.

Achievements

• He was a founder, in 1997, and member since 2005 of the Archive Trust.

Connections

Friend:

T. East. Utley