RAB
Within four days came the funeral service of Sir Winston, the memorial service to Lord Woolton, and the announcement of the retire- ment of Mr. R. A. Butler from party politics to become Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. The C-in-C, the Adjutant-General, the Chief of the Policy Staff of the Conservative Opposition from 1945-1951 have all gone. It has become fashionable now to underestimate the effect Lord Woolton and RAB had on the transformation of the Tory Party. At least those who worked as lieutenants to RAB are in no danger of doing this. He, more than any other man, made the modern Tory Party. He, more than any other man, was the architect of the Tory years 1951- 1964. The reasons why this man of superb and supple intelligence never led his party, never became Prime Minister, belong to history. What at least is beyond dispute is his contribution to his country and his party. The Tory Party and especially the Tory Radicals owe more than they know, more than they will acknowledge, more than they can ever repay to RAB.
Previous page
