Sir Peter Barclay retires from JRF chair

Sir Peter Barclay is to retire in March after five years as chair of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation - the UK’s largest independent social research and development charity, based in York. He will be succeeded by Kenneth Dixon CBE, a former chairman of Rowntree plc

Sir Peter has been a trustee of the Foundation since 1972 and became its chairman in 1996. In addition to a wide and varied practice as a solicitor, he has held many public appointments including chairman of the Government’s Social Security Advisory Committee between 1984 and 1993.

He headed the 1982 national inquiry into the roles and tasks of social workers (‘the Barclay report’). He also chaired the JRF Inquiry into Income and Wealth that reported in 1995. Between 1983 and 1991 he chaired the St Pancras Housing Association. He is a past President of the National Institute of Social Work and was chairman from 1973 to 1997 of the Family Fund Trust, also based in York.

Richard Best, Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said: “Sir Peter Barclay has commanded not only the respect of his fellow Trustees and the Foundation’s staff, but also their very genuine affection. He has cared deeply about the issues pursued by the JRF and about the lives of those who work here. We have hugely appreciated his kindness, his expertise and his wisdom.”

Kenneth Dixon was chairman of Rowntree plc between 1981 and 1989, having first joined the company in York in 1956. He has served on the boards of other companies, including Legal and General, Bass plc and British Rail. Between 1990 and 1992 he was chairman of the Visiting Committee of the Open University. He continues to chair the Council of York University and has recently retired as chairman of the Committee of University Chairmen. He has been a trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation since 1996.