Member News
3rd December 2010
Baroness Lucy Faithfull of Wolvercote OBE was a Conservative peer, but much more than that she was an avid campaigner for children's rights, up to the time of her death in 1996.
Friends, colleagues and supporters of Lucy's work came together to share memories of Lucy at the centenary celebration of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF).
Not knowing the true extent of the work of Baroness Faithfull, you came away in awe of her spirit, determination and self-sacrifice in championing the causes of others; causes that were not necessarily favoured by everyone.
Ahead of her time, Baroness Faithfull held the view that the best way of protecting children was to change offenders. This, Adrianne Jones, a trustee of LFF, believes really demonstrated what a strong character she was.
"The fact that Lucy not only lent her name, but also helped set up LFF shows something of her mettle, because work with sex offenders is not a popular cause. She would stand up and be counted on things that matter to her about children. I think that is really courageous and one of the things I admire about her most of all," she said.
It was in Parliament where Lucy really showed her calibre. With a solid background in social work, to this day Lucy is the first and only social worker to have sat in the House of Lords.
Although appointed to the Lords by Margaret Thatcher as a Conservative peer, Lucy proved to be something of a thorn in the government's side when it came to the matter of children or social issues. Sir Roger Singleton, former chief executive of Barnados and now chair of the Independent Safeguarding Authority, recounted one of Lucy's favourite stories from the Lords:
"An active peer during the days when the House of Lords was teaming with male hereditary peers, Lucy took advantage of their propensity to nap in the chamber.
"When a division for one of the amendments was called, the old dears would wake up and ask Lucy which division they should enter, "Follow me," she would order, and then set off in the direction in a determined stride.
"It was only later, when the whips protested, that the old men realised that, in backing Lucy, they had voted against the government," he said.
This type of behaviour, and her persuasive opposition to some government policies, led her to be affectionately nicknamed "Lady Faithless" by the government whip.
Baroness Howarth, a good friend of Lucy's, recalled the days when Michael Howard was home secretary, and it was said Lucy would be 'Howard's end'. She was a fierce opponent of the home secretary’s Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill of 1994, which proposed the establishment of secure training centres in the grounds of adult prisons for children aged between 12 and 14.
During her time in the House, Lucy helped to establish, and from 1995 chaired, the all-party parliamentary group for children. This was instrumental in bringing about the Children Act of 1989.
Everybody spoke of their privilege to have met or worked with Lucy, somebody who by all accounts didn't need a second opportunity to make a first impression, but carried out her work in an entirely principled manor, remaining true to what she believed in, and forever modest.
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