Basil Neven-Spence

Shetland Museum photo of Sir Basil Neven-Spence in 1969

The Janet Courtney Hostel for boys opening ceremony, platform party. Left to right front row - James Pottinger, P. Inglis - Carnegie UK Trustee, Sir Basil Neven-Spence - M.P., E. Salter Davies - chairman of trustees, Lt. Col. Magnus Shearer - chairman of education committee Back row left to right - J. Cunningham - trustee, J. Pirie Glen - Carnegie trust treasurer, J. Shearer - architect of hostel, J. Wilkie - Carnegie trust secretary, Rev. W.C.B. Smith - St. Columbas, Lerwick.

Sir Basil Hamilton Hebden Neven-Spence (b. 12 June 1888, Leith, d. 13 September 1974, Edinburgh) was elected as a conservative MP for the constituency of Orkney & Shetland on 14th November 1935, replacing Robert Hamilton. He served until 1950 when he was replaced by Jo Grimond.

After graduating from Edinburgh University in 1911, he served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, mainly in the Middle East, before returning to the UK in 1924 and continuing his army career as a specialist medical officer at Aldershot. He retired from the army in 1927 with the rank of Major.
He contested the 1929 election, which was won by Robert Hamilton, and pulled out of the 1931 campaign, prior to the election, before winning the seat in 1935.

He had the Haa on Uyea in his pomp. Jack Priest's memoir of WW2 gives an interesting insider's view of him and the big hoose, from a small boy's point of view.

External Links

• Bayanne genealogy page