Robert Balchin, Lord Lingfield (born 31 July 1942) is a British educationalist, noted as an advocate for school autonomy. Lord Lingfield serves as Pro-Chancellor of Brunel University and Chairman of the Trustees of ARNI[1]. He is also the Chairman of the League of Mercy and a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London.[2] He previously served as Director-General of St. John Ambulance from 1984 until 1990. He was chairman of the Grant-Maintained Schools Centre (formerly Foundation) 1989-99 and has been chairman of the Centre for Education Management (now CEFM) since 1995. Lingfield has also written numerous articles on education and politics. A Freeman of the City of London, he is also a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths' and Broderers' Companies.
In 2006 he was appointed as Knight Principal (Chairman of the Knights' Council) of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor.[3] Lingfield was appointed Honorary Colonel of Humberside and South Yorkshire ACF in 2004.
Balchin was created a Life Peer on 17 December 2010 as Baron Lingfield.[4] Sitting on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords, Lord Lingfield's schools initiative has been deemed successful by Daily Telegraph Deputy Editor Benedict Brogan and "first and, as time passes, perhaps the most important legislative milestone achieved by the Coalition".[5]
| Preceded by Sir Richard Gaskell |
Knight Principal of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor 2006-? |
Succeeded by Incumbent |