A tribute to Russell Lewis

I was in London yesterday to attend 'A tribute to Russell Lewis' who died, aged 95, last year.

As I explained here, Russell was a non-executive director of Forest for 30 years, which is how I came to know him.

Prior to that he was a leader writer for the Daily Telegraph, then the Daily Mail, but there was a lot I didn't know about him.

From 1970 to 1975, for example, he was director of the Conservative Political Centre. During that time he fell out with Conservative leader Ted Heath and fell in with Margaret Thatcher, writing the first biography of the future prime minister.

Back then he was a keen advocate of Britain's entry into the European Economic Community (EEC), as it was then called, before changing his mind as it evolved into something rather different.

Yesterday's tribute took place at the Carlton Club, 'founded in 1832 as the original home of the Conservative Party'.

Born in Caerphilly in South Wales but settled in England for his entire adult life, Russell was a member of the club for many years and one of the speakers yesterday was former Conservative Chancellor, the Rt Hon Lord Lamont of Lerwick.

There was also music and poetry (performed or recited by members of the Lewis family) followed by tea and sandwiches (and a glass of champagne).

'A tribute to Russell Lewis' was more intimate but it took me back to the memorial service at St John’s, Smith Square, for Lord Harris of High Cross, one of the founders of the Institute of Economic Affairs and chairman of Forest from 1987 until his death in 2006.

On that occasion Russell was one of many speakers paying tribute. Others included another former Chancellor, Lord Howe. Lord Tebbit and journalist Simon Heffer spoke too.

What Ralph Harris shared with Russell was not only a belief in free markets and individual freedom but an openness to new ideas plus a certain contrariness.

Lord Lamont spoke of Russell's "warmth" but he and Ralph also had a steely determination to win the battle of ideas.

Neither chose the easy political path so I was pleased that Lord Lamont mentioned Russell's role with Forest, noting that his old friend was a non-smoker.

An archive of Russell's many pamphlets, books and articles is being created online. It's not yet complete but you can visit it here.

See also: 'Russell Lewis, Conservative intellectual who wrote an early biography of Margaret Thatcher' (Telegraph)

Below: Russell with his son Dan at Forest's 40th anniversary dinner in 2019