Always avoiding controversy herself, she was probably put off by the sheer scholasticism into which the treatment of the subject had degenerated, the rudeness with which academics treated each other over it, when she herself was always courteous and lady-like.What was remarkable about Wedgwood's view of the Civil War was the way in which she depicted the sheer confusion of it all, the impossibility of co- ordinating events in three countries, once order from the centre had broken down. This may be regarded as a bonus for imposing no sharp-angled interpretation of her own that might invite more controversy. But it was a pity that what would have been her magnum opus remained incomplete.A by-product of this concern was Montrose (1952), a short biography of the gallant general, a sympathetic character to her, as also was Prince Rupert from early days. Various volumes followed, essays collected in Velvet Studies (1946) and Truth and Opinion (1960).
More significant were her Cambridge lectures on literature and politics in the 17th century (published as Poetry and Politics, 1960). For these brought out the fact that in her mind history and literature are closely associated, as with all the best and great historians. Independent-minded, as her circumstances enabled her to be independent, she belonged to no "school", though this inflexion affiliated her to the work of G.M. Trevelyan, head of the profession in her time.She moved out from her chosen period to write the life of her uncle Colonel Josiah Wedgwood MP, another independent, initiator of the scheme of the History of Parliament. She was also the author of two translations - Charles V (by Carl Brandi, 1939) and Auto da Fe (by Elias Canetti, 1946).
Her last undertaking was as bold and brave as it was unexpected, a two- volume introduction to world history, of which she completed the first volume, The Spoils of Time (1984), up to 1550. Ill-health prevented her from going on with it.All Wedgwood's writing was accompanied by a prodigious amount of public work, indeed we may say "good works", in keeping with the tradition of her family, for in person she was benevolent and a generous giver. She took her stint of academic lecturing in her stride, for many years a "Special Lecturer" at University College London, 1962-91, though giving time and service readily elsewhere. In return she was awarded many honorary degrees, and was elected an honorary Fellow of her Oxford college.For years she worked hard for the Pen Club in London, becoming its president and attending its conferences at home and abroad. She worked similarly for the Society of Authors, the London Library, and the Arts Council.
Her membership of public bodies too numerous to specify included serving on the Advisory Council of the Victoria & Albert Museum and twice as trustee of the National Gallery.She enjoyed, in addition, an American career. For 15 years, from 1953 to 1968, she was a member of the Institute of Advanced Studies at Princeton, which had been founded on the model of All Souls College, Oxford. This gave her a shelter from the burden of so much public work at home, in which she could concentrate on research and writing. She was rewarded with numerous American honours, membership of the Academies of Arts and Letters, and Arts and Sciences, and the Philosophical and Historical Societies.At a time when women were coming to the fore in so many walks of life Veronica Wedgwood may be regarded as something of a front-runner. As such she was phenomenally rewarded: Commander of the British Empire, then Dame, the Goethe Prize, eventually (though early - she was still in her fifties) the Order of Merit She herself said it was "excessive". But her awards were well earned, for public work as much as for her writing, which was as prolific as it was of high quality.Cicely Veronica Wedgwood, historian: born Stocksfield, Northumberland 20 July 1910; FRSL 1947; President, English Centre, International Pen Club 1951-57; member, Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts 1953- 78; President, English Association 1955-56; CBE 1956, DBE 1968; member, Arts Council 1958-61; member, Advisory Council, Victoria & Albert Museum 1960-69; trustee, National Gallery 1962-68, 1969-76; OM 1969; President, Society of Authors 1972-77; FBA 1975; died London 9 March 1997.. Jimmy Airlie was the former Clydeside shipyard fitter who became one of the leaders of the historic Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in a quarter of a century ago.
He was a character and Communist of the old school, and an outstanding socialist orator, with a big, boisterous, gutsy style. In 1983 he was the first Communist to be elected to the national executive of the then Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) in a decade, taking the Scottish seat formerly held by the right-winger Gavin Laird. This victory for the Left horrified the union's president, Terry Duffy, a man who had spent his life "fighting the Reds". Later, right-wingers on his union executive were to combine to prevent Airlie's becoming president after the departure of Bill Jordan. But friends and foes alike - and he had his share of both - all respected Jimmy Airlie. Delegates at union conferences, many suffering hangovers after a late debating session with Airlie, were frequently reminded of his strong constitution, particularly when the dedicated non-smoker and hill-walker ran past their bedroom windows during his regular three-mile morning jogs.He was renowned for his tough talking, formidable negotiating skills and shrewd use of the media. His speech style was once described as joined- up shouting but he could grasp the attention of even the largest audiences, whether they were on a windy dockside or in a conference hall.