Basil Neven-Spence

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File:Janetcourtnyopening.jpg
The Janet Courtney Hostel for boys opening ceremony, platform party. Left to right front row - James Pottinger, P. Inglis - Carnegie UK Trustee, Sir Basil Neven-Spence - M.P., E. Salter Davies - chairman of trustees, Lt. Col. Magnus Shearer - chairman of education committee Back row left to right - J. Cunningham - trustee, J. Pirie Glen - Carnegie trust treasurer, J. Shearer - architect of hostel, J. Wilkie - Carnegie trust secretary, Rev. W.C.B. Smith - St. Columbas, Lerwick.

Sir Basil Hamilton Hebden Neven-Spence (b. 12 June 1888, Leith, d. 13 September 1974, Edinburgh) was elected as a conservative MP for the constituency of Orkney & Shetland on 14th November 1935, replacing Robert Hamilton. He served until 1950 when he was replaced by Jo Grimond.

After graduating from Edinburgh University in 1911, he served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, mainly in the Middle East, before returning to the UK in 1924 and continuing his army career as a specialist medical officer at Aldershot. He retired from the army in 1927 with the rank of Major.

He contested the 1929 election, which was won by Robert Hamilton, and pulled out of the 1931 campaign, prior to the election, before winning the seat in 1935.

He had the Haa on Uyea in his pomp. Jack Priest's memoir of WW2 gives an interesting insider's view of him and the big hoose, from a small boy's point of view.

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Robert Hamilton
Member of Parliament for
Orkney and Shetland

1935-1950
Succeeded by
Jo Grimond
Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
MPs Robert Honyman (1801-1806) • Robert Honyman (1806-1807) • Malcolm Laing (1807-1812) • Richard Honyman (1812-1818) • George Dundas (1818-1820) • John Balfour (1820-1826) • George Dundas (1826-1830) • George Traill (1830-1835) • Thomas Balfour (1835-1837) • Frederick Dundas (1837-1847) • Arthur Anderson (1847-1852) • Frederick Dundas (1852-1873) • Samuel Laing (1873-1885) • Leonard Lyell (1885-1900) • Cathcart Wason (1900-1921) • Malcolm Smith (1921-1922) • Robert Hamilton (1922-1935) • Basil Neven-Spence (1935-1950) • Jo Grimond (1950-1983) • Jim Wallace (1983-2001) • Alistair Carmichael (2001-present)
Zetland County Council
Preceded by
John Sandison

JohnSandison.png
Member for
Unst South

1929-1935
Succeeded by
William Clark
Preceded by
Edward Adie
Edward Adie headshot.png
Member for
Delting South

1952-1955
Succeeded by
Edward Adie
Edward Adie headshot.png
Preceded by
John Sutherland
Member for
Delting North

1958-1961
Succeeded by
William Marshall
Delting North County Councillors
Councillors Charles Hoseason (1890-1890) • John Inkster (1890-1890) • James Inkster (1890-1904) • William Pole (1904-1907) • John Henderson (1907-1913) • James Hay (1913-1922) • Joseph Pole (1922-1945) • James Hay (1945-1952) • Donald Sutherland (1952-1955) • John Sutherland (1955-1958) • Basil Neven-Spence (1958-1961) • William Marshall (1961-1963) • Andrew Peterson (1963-1964) • Andrew Tulloch (1964-1970) • Fraser Peterson (1970-1975)
Delting South County Councillors
Councillors Thomas Gifford (1890-1898) • William Adie (1899-1907) • Laurence Robertson (1907-1913) • Arthur White (1913-1919) • Joseph Peterson (1919-1922) • Robert J. H. Ganson (1922-1928) • Edward Adie (1928-1952) • Basil Neven-Spence (1952-1955) • Edward Adie (1955-1967) • Hugh Sutherland (1967-1970) • William Robb (1970-1975)
Unst South County Councillors
Councillors Alexander Sandison (1890-1898) • Thomas Sandison (1898-1901) • John Sandison (1902-1907) • Thomas Sandison (1907-1910) • John Sandison (1910-1929) • Basil Neven-Spence (1929-1935) • William Clark (1936-1938) • Andrew Irvine (1938-1942) • Henry Hunter (1942-1949) • James Matches (1949-1961) • Peter Hunter (1961-1970) • Alan Fraser (1970-1975)