Richard Wensum

February 4, 1949

In the 1981 Birthday Honours Ryder was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), for political service. Having unsuccessfully fought the Labour seat of Gateshead East in February and October 1974, at the 1983 general election, Ryder was elected as Member of Parliament for the Mid Norfolk constituency. From 1990 to 1995 he was the government"s Chief Whip. This period includes the Conservative backbench rebellion over the Maastricht Treaty. The maverick MPs, known as the Maastricht Rebels, were under intense pressure from the government whips but still brought the administration of John Major close to collapse. Ryder retired from the House of Commons at the 1997 general election, and was created a life peer as Baron Ryder of Wensum, of Wensum in the County of Norfolk on 22 November 1997. He became Vice-Chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation on 1 January 2002 for a four-year term. Ryder was appointed Acting Chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation following the resignation of Gavyn Davies on 28 January 2004. Davies resigned following the criticism of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the Hutton Report, which was set up to investigate "the circumstances surrounding the death of Doctor David Kelly." One of Ryder"s first acts as Chairman was to give a televised statement, during which he offered an unreserved apology for the mistakes made during the Doctor Kelly affair. This apology was criticised by many, including departing Director General, Greg Dyke, as overdone. In the same statement Ryder announced that the process to select a new Chairman had begun and that he would not be putting his name forward. Michael Grade was appointed on 2 April 2004 and took up his post on 17 May. Ryder resumed the post of Vice-Chairman. Ryder resigned early on 1 August 2004, after which the position was assumed by Anthony Salz. Ryder is the Chairman of the Institute of Cancer Research, and is a director of Ipswich Town F.C.

Richard Wensum

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Education

He was educated at Radley College.

Career

In the 1981 Birthday Honours Ryder was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), for political service. Having unsuccessfully fought the Labour seat of Gateshead East in February and October 1974, at the 1983 general election, Ryder was elected as Member of Parliament for the Mid Norfolk constituency. From 1990 to 1995 he was the government"s Chief Whip.

This period includes the Conservative backbench rebellion over the Maastricht Treaty.

The maverick MPs, known as the Maastricht Rebels, were under intense pressure from the government whips but still brought the administration of John Major close to collapse. Ryder retired from the House of Commons at the 1997 general election, and was created a life peer as Baron Ryder of Wensum, of Wensum in the County of Norfolk on 22 November 1997.

He became Vice-Chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation on 1 January 2002 for a four-year term. Ryder was appointed Acting Chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation following the resignation of Gavyn Davies on 28 January 2004.

Davies resigned following the criticism of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the Hutton Report, which was set up to investigate "the circumstances surrounding the death of Doctor David Kelly." One of Ryder"s first acts as Chairman was to give a televised statement, during which he offered an unreserved apology for the mistakes made during the Doctor Kelly affair.

This apology was criticised by many, including departing Director General, Greg Dyke, as overdone. In the same statement Ryder announced that the process to select a new Chairman had begun and that he would not be putting his name forward. Michael Grade was appointed on 2 April 2004 and took up his post on 17 May.

Ryder resumed the post of Vice-Chairman.

Ryder resigned early on 1 August 2004, after which the position was assumed by Anthony Salz. Ryder is the Chairman of the Institute of Cancer Research, and is a director of Ipswich Town F.C.

Membership

49th United Kingdom Parliament. 50th United Kingdom Parliament. 51st United Kingdom Parliament]

A former Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) and government minister, he was made a life peer in 1997 and is now a member of the House of Lords.

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Richard Wensum

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