John Ruggles-Brise

Who was John Ruggles-Brise?

Colonel Sir John Archibald Ruggles-Brise, 2nd Baronet, CB, OBE, DL TD was Lord Lieutenant of Essex from 1958 to 1978, and was the first Pro-Chancellor of Essex University from 1964 to 1979. He was also a president of the Country Landowners' Association from 1957 to 1959, and was a co-founder of the CLA's annual Game Fair in 1958.

Ruggles-Brise was born at Brent Hall in Finchingfield in Essex. His family have deep roots in Essex, having been based at Spains Hall in Finchingfield since the house was bought by Samuel Ruggles, a clothier, in 1760. His father, Sir Edward Ruggles-Brise, 1st Baronet, was MP for Maldon from 1922 to his death in 1942, and became a baronet in George V's Silver Jubilee honours list in 1935.

Ruggles-Brise was educated at Wellesley House School, Broadstairs and Eton College, where he became captain of his house, and then worked on a family farm in Alberta in Canada. He worked at Employers Liability Assurance, rising to manage its branches in the City of London and the West End of London.

He joined the Territorial Army in 1938. When the Second World War broke out, he enlisted as a gunner in the 54th Anti-Aircraft Regiment.