Cheviot Bell Explained

Cheviot Bell
Order:Member of the Legislative Council
Term Start:27 July 1950
Term End:31 December 1950
Birth Date:18 August 1892
Birth Place:Wellington, New Zealand
Death Place:Masterton, New Zealand
Education:Christ's College
Alma Mater:University of Cambridge
Mother:Caroline Bell
Father:Francis Henry Dillon Bell
Relatives:William Henry Dillon Bell (brother)
Arthur Bell (uncle)
Brenda Bell (cousin)
Dillon Bell (grandfather)
William Robinson (grandfather)
Party:National

Cheviot Wellington Rangi Dillon Bell (18 August 1892 – 26 September 1960) was a New Zealand lawyer. He was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council in 1950 as part of National's suicide squad.

Biography

Bell was born in Wellington on 18 August 1892.[1] His father was Sir Francis Bell, a Reform Party leader and later the first New Zealand-born Prime Minister. His mother was Caroline Bell (née Robinson), and his maternal grandfather was William Robinson.[2] He was educated at Christ's College and the University of Cambridge, from where he graduated with a BA. Bell trained as a lawyer. In World War I he was in the 10th Royal Hussars and the Royal Flying Corps, and in World War II was Commandant of the RNZAF Training School at Woodbourne.[3]

He was appointed as a member of the suicide squad by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for the abolition of the Council. Most of the new members were appointed on 22 June 1950, but three more members, including Bell, were appointed on 27 July 1950.[4]

Bell was Wellington divisional chair of the National Party before he moved to the Wairarapa in 1951. He died on 26 September 1960 at his home, "Rangitumau", in Masterton,[5] [6] and his ashes were buried at Karori Cemetery in Wellington.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Births. 14 June 2015. The Evening Post. XLIV. 45. 22 August 1892. 2.
  2. News: The New Member for Wellington . 14 June 2015 . Inangahua Times . XVI . 234 . 1 February 1892 . 3.
  3. Book: Gustafson, Barry . Barry Gustafson . The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party . 1986 . Reed Methuen . Auckland . 0-474-00177-6 . 354f.
  4. Book: Wilson, J.O. . New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840–1984 . 4th . 1913 . 1985 . V.R. Ward, Government Printer . Wellington . 149.
  5. News: Obituary . 20 January 2022 . . XCIX . 29320 . 27 September 1960 . 15.
  6. Web site: Cemeteries search: cremation . 12 July 2012 . Wellington City Council . 14 June 2015.
  7. Web site: Cemeteries search:burial . 12 July 2012 . Wellington City Council . 14 June 2015.