Nigel Vinson, Baron Vinson

Nigel Vinson, Baron Vinson, LVO (born 27 January 1931) is a British businessman/inventor.

Vinson is the son of Ronald Vinson, a farmer, Vinson was educated at Pangbourne. After school he served in the Queen's Royal Regiment from 1948 to 1950, reaching the rank of Lieutenant.

In 1952 Vinson began a small plastics company in Guildford (Plastic Coatings Ltd), which in 1969 was floated on the Stock Exchange, with over 1,000 employees. The business won the Queen's Award for Industry in 1971. Vinson was Deputy Chairman of the Confederation of British Industry's Smaller Firms Council from 1979 to 1984 and President of the Industrial Participation Association from 1979 to 1989. He was Director of the Sugar Board from 1968 to 1975, Director of the British Airports Authority from 1973 to 1980, and a Director of Barclays Bank from 1982 to 1987. He worked for the Centre for Policy Studies between 1974 and 1980. Vinson was Deputy Chairman of Electra Investment Trust 1990 to 1998 and was also chairman and deputy chairman of a number of other firms and trusts. From 1976 to 1978 he was an honorary director of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Appeal. He was a Member of the Northumbrian National Parks and Countryside Committee between 1977 and 1987, and a member of the Foundation for Science and Technology between 1991 and 1996. Since 2003, he is a Trustee of Civitas (think tank). And is life Vice President of the IEA where he was Chairman of Trustees 1989 to 1995.

He was a member of the Design Council from 1973 to 1980 and unsalaried Chairman of the Rural Development Commission 1980 to 1990. He was founder donor of the Martin Mere Wildfowl Reserve in 1972 and gave a village green to Holbourn, Northumberland, in 2006.

Vinson was invested as a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) in the 1979 New Year Honours (note: prior to 31 December 1984 classified as a Member fourth class (MVO)). On 7 February 1985, he was created a life peer as Baron Vinson, of Roddam Dene in the County of Northumberland. He was a council member of St George's House, Windsor Castle, from 1990 to 1996.

Vinson has been married to Yvonne Collin since 1972; they have three daughters.

He is a regular attender at House of Lords debates, and spoke in the 2007 and 2014 sessions in support of nuclear power, against what he sees as the folly of policies based on costly British renewable generation solutions, increasing, he argues, fuel poverty, whilst the growing world population issue remains unaddressed.

On the 4 August 2012, Lord Vinson threatened to defect to UKIP unless the Conservatives took a more Better Off Out approach to Europe. On 4 June 2013 he spoke and voted in the Lords against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.

Arms

Arms of Nigel Vinson, Baron Vinson

Coronet A Coronet of a Baron Crest [Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent Azure and Gules] within a Garland of Vine Leaves Or a Demi Ounce Azure Escutcheon Per pale Gules and Azure a Cross Formy Argent on a Chief per pale Azure and Gules two Bull's Heads caboshed Argent armed Or and crowned with a Crown Rayonny each straight ray ensigned by a Mullet Or Supporters Dexter: an Ounce rampant Sable semy of Mullets Or gorged with a Garland of Vine Leaves Gold; Sinister: a Horse rampant Argent also gorged with a Garland of Vine Leaves Gold, the whole upon a Compartment comprising two Grassy Hillocks and in the valley between them Water barry wavy of six Azure and Argent Motto No freedom without choice