The 13th Earl Ferrers (1929-2012)

_.The Earl Ferrers, a former Conservative government minister, died 13 November, 2012. He was 83. 
Robert Washington Shirley was born 8 June, 1929, son of the 12th Earl, by his wife the former Hermione Morley. 

Lord Ferrers was the 13th Earl (Peerage of GB, cr 1711); Viscount Tamworth (Peerage of GB, cr 1711), and was one of the senior most baronet's (Bart, England, 1611). 

Hw was a Lord in Waiting (Government Whip) in the administrations of Harold Macmillan and Sir Alec Douglas-Home, 1962-4; 1974-74; Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Foods 1974; Joint Deputy Leader of the Opposition, House of Lords 1976-79; High Steward, Norwich Cathedral, since 1979; Minister of State, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food 1979-83; Deputy Leader, House of Lords 1979-83 and 1988-97; Privy Councillor 1982; Deputy Lieutenant, Norfolk 1983; Minister of State, Home Office 1988-94, Department of Trade and Industry 1994-95 and Department of the Environment 1995-97; Sub-Warden, Winchester College, since 1998; elected to the House of Lords 1999; Grand Prior of England, Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem/ 

He succeeded to the family honours on his father's death, 11 Oct, 1954; married 1951, Annabel Mary Carr, by whom he had issue, 2 sons and three daughters. The peerages and baronetcy devolve upon his Lordship's elder son, Robert William Saswalo Shirley, styled Viscount Tamworth, who was b 29 Dec, 1952.

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