Angus Fraser (civil servant)

Sir Angus McKay Fraser
KCB TD FSA
Efficiency Advisor to the Prime Minister
In office
1988–1992
Preceded by Robin Ibbs
Succeeded by Peter Levene
Chairman of the Customs and Excise
In office
1983–1987
First Civil Service Commissioner
In office
1981–1983
Preceded by Dr Fergus Allen
Succeeded by Dennis Trevelyan
Personal details
Born (1928-03-08)8 March 1928
Maxwelltown, Dumfries
Died 27 May 2001(2001-05-27) (aged 73)
Munich, Germany[1]
Spouse(s) Margaret Neilson 1955 - 1968, Gillian Fenwick 1991 - 9 November 1993, his death
Children a son and daughter, Caroline
Alma mater Glasgow University

Angus McKay Fraser KCB TD (10 March 1928 – 27 May 2001) was a senior British Civil Servant politician and cabinet minister from 1979 until 1992, and a lifelong scholar of Gypsies, and of the author George Borrow.[2]

Early life

He was born at Dumfries, the son of a prison officer. He grew up in Falkirk, attending Falkirk High School where his interest in the life and writings of George Borrow was first kindled.[3] After school he read Modern Languages at Glasgow University.

After graduating he did Military Service in the Royal Artillery. He continued his association with the military as a member of the Territorial Army, receiving the Territorial Efficiency Decoration in 1966, at which time he held the rank of Major.[4]

Career

Fraser joined the Customs and Excise in 1952. His career tended to alternate between central Whitehall departments (Civil Service Department, The Treasury) and his own department. He rose to become Deputy Chairman of the Customs and Excise in 1978, followed by a Permanent Secretary position in the Civil Service Department (one of only 3 not Oxbridge educated at the time), and finally Chairman of the Customs and Excise.

Shortly after retiring from the Customs and Excise Fraser was appointed Efficiency Advisor in the Cabinet Office in 1988, apparently after Margaret Thatcher asked about 'the man from Customs'.[3] He remained in post after Margaret Thatcher was succeeded by John Major, finally retiring in 1992.[5]

Later years

On his retirement from the Cabinet Office, Fraser largely devoted himself to his long-standing scholarly interests. Shortly after Fraser retired he published The Gypsies,[6] a succinct account based on decades of study. Short before leaving office he had founded the George Borrow Society. He remained President of the society until his death.

He also found time to advise politicians inexperienced in public administration, varying from the leaders of the African National Congress, to the British Labour Party of Tony Blair.

Honours

References

  1. ↑ "Sir Angus Fraser". The Independent. 17 June 2001.
  2. ↑ Anthony Sampson (15 June 2001). "Sir Angus Fraser". The Guardian.
  3. 1 2 "Sir Angus Fraser". The Daily Telegraph. 8 June 2001.
  4. ↑ "Sir Angus Fraser". 2001-06-07. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  5. ↑ Sampson, Anthony (2001-06-15). "Sir Angus Fraser". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  6. ↑ Angus Fraser (23 February 1995). The Gypsies. Wiley. ISBN 978-0-631-19605-1.
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