Interviews with Alan Lennox-Boyd, 1st Viscount Boyd of Merton

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MS. 5221

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Transcripts of interviews with Alan Lennox-Boyd,1st Viscount Boyd, relating to his political career and in particular his time as Secretary of State for the Colonies, organised by the Oxford University Committee on African Studies. Comprising

(Folder 1) interview on West Africa conducted by Anthony Kirk-Greene, Senior Research Fellow of St Antony's College, Oxford, on 12 December 1974
(Folder 2) interview on East Africa conducted by Alison Smith on 13 December 1974
(Folder 3) interview on the Colonial Service conducted by Anthony Kirk-Greene on 13 December 1974
(Folder 4) interview on Viscount Boyd's early political career conducted by Gillian Peele on 20 February 1975. Includes fighting the 1929 General Election, entering the House of Commons in 1931 and Indian issues.
(Folder 5) interview on Central Africa conducted by Professor Kenneth Kirkwood of St Antony's College, Oxford, on 21 February 1975
(Folder 6) interview on the role of Prime Ministers in decolonization and their individual styles of government conducted by Gillian Peel on 21 February 1975. With text of speech delivered by Viscount Boyd at the annual banquet held in Edmonton, Alberta, of the Sir Winston Churchill Society on 14 May 1973.
(Folder 7) interview on Malta conducted by Sir John Martin on 31 July 1975
(Folder 8) interview on Malaya and Singapore conducted by Sir David Watherston on 30 July 1976
(Folder 9) interview on Cyprus conducted by Sir George Sinclair and others [not named] [no date given]
(Folder 10) Notes compiled by Professor David Dilks of the University of Leeds on some of the personalities and events mentioned in the interviews, 1987. Comprises general notes and notes on the interviews on West Africa, East Africa, early career, Central Africa, Prime Ministers, Malta, and Malaya and Singapore.

Dates

Creation: 1974-1987

Extent

1 box

Language of Materials

English

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. 5221].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Shelfmark:

MS. 5221

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 5221

Additional Description

Abstract

Interviews with Alan Lennox-Boyd, 1st Viscount Boyd of Merton.

Biographical / Historical

Alan Tindal Lennox-Boyd was born on 18 November 1904 and educated at Sherborne School and Christ Church, Oxford. He was active in university politics and entered Parliament in 1931, winning Mid-Bedfordshire for the Conservatives. From 1938 he held several ministerial posts and served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II.

Lennox-Boyd was appointed Colonial Secretary in July 1954 and held the post until October 1959. During this time there was pressure from nationalist movements in many colonies and in 1957 Ghana and Malaysia became independent. The period also saw the creation of federations in Central Africa, southern Arabia and the West Indies and the Emergency in Kenya.

In 1960 Lennox-Boyd was elevated to the House of Lords as first Viscount Boyd of Merton. He became managing director of Arthur Guiness and Co. Ltd. and supported a number of organisations including the Overseas Service Pensioners' Association. He died on 8 March 1983.

For further details see the Dictionary of National Biography.