The Right Honourable

The Viscount Runciman
of Doxford

OBE, AFC
Born
Walter Leslie Runciman

(1900-08-26)26 August 1900
Died1 November 1989(1989-11-01) (aged 89)
NationalityBritish
Alma materTrinity College, Cambridge
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1923; div. 1928)​
    Katherine Schuyler Garrison
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1932)​
    ChildrenWalter Garrison Runciman
    Parent(s)Walter Runciman, 1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford
    Hilda Stevenson
    Military career
    AllegianceUnited Kingdom
    ServiceRoyal Air Force
    Years of service1930–1939
    1943–1946
    RankSquadron Leader
    Commands heldNo. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron
    Battles/warsSecond World War
    AwardsOfficer of the Order of the British Empire
    Air Force Cross

    Walter Leslie Runciman, 2nd Viscount Runciman of Doxford, OBE, AFC (26 August 1900 – 1 September 1989) was a prominent member of the Runcimans, a well-known Newcastle ship-owning and political family.

    Background

    Runciman was the eldest son of the politician Walter Runciman (later Walter Runciman, 1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford) and Hilda Stevenson. He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and grew up at Doxford Hall. He was educated at Summer Fields School,[1] Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1937 he was awarded the Air Force Cross. He was awarded the OBE in 1946 for war service. On his father's death in 1949 he succeeded to the title Viscount Runciman of Doxford (created in 1937).

    Career

    After graduating from Cambridge, Leslie Runciman joined the family shipping business, later becoming chairman of the company.[2] He trained as a pilot and was Commanding Officer of No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force from 1930 to 1939.[3] He also partnered with Constance Leathart in forming Cramlington Aircraft Ltd, which ran Cramlington Aerodrome as well as producing a primary glider in the early 1930s. From 1940 to 1943, he was the first Director-General of the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). From then until 1946, he was Air Attaché in Tehran. Post-war Runciman served on many business and public organisations mainly related to shipping and air transport. He was a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich from 1955, acting as chairman from 1962 to 1972.[4] A lifelong yachtsman, he was Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron from 1968 to 1974 and of Royal Northumberland Yacht Club from 1946 to 1976 when he was promoted Admiral for life.

    Family

    Walter Leslie Runciman married novelist Rosamond Nina Lehmann in 1923. They were divorced in 1928 and he remarried Katherine Schuyler Garrison in 1932. Their only child, the Hon Walter Garrison Runciman, later 3rd Viscount Runciman of Doxford was born in 1934.[5] Leslie Runciman was the elder brother of the distinguished historian, the Honourable Sir Steven Runciman.

    Honours

    Honorary military appointments

    Arms

    Coat of arms of Leslie Runciman, 2nd Viscount Runciman of Doxford
    Coronet
    A Coronet of a Viscount
    Crest
    A Seahorse erect Gules holding in the fore fins a Thistle as in the arms
    Escutcheon
    Per Fess Or and Azure a Lymphad oars in action the Sail charged with a Thistle leaved and slipped proper Flags flying to the dexter Gules
    Supporters
    On either side a Seahorse Or gorged with a Chain pendent therefrom a Grappling Iron Azure
    Motto
    By Sea

    References

    1. ↑ Usborne, Richard (1964). A Century of Summer Fields. Methuen. p. 113.
    2. ↑ "Runciman 3". Sclews.me.uk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
    3. ↑ 607 Squadron Photo 1
    4. ↑ "Walter Leslie Runciman, 1900–89,… (BHC2988) – National Maritime Museum". Nmm.ac.uk. 10 October 1917. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
    5. ↑ "Runciman of Doxford, Viscount (UK, 1937)". Cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
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