Sir Michael Graham Pownall, KCB (born 11 October 1949) is a retired British public servant. From 2007 to 2011, he was Clerk of the Parliaments in the House of Lords of the United Kingdom.

Sir Michael Pownall
Clerk of the Parliaments
In office
4 November 2007 – 15 April 2011
Preceded bySir Paul Hayter
Succeeded bySir David Beamish
Personal details
Born
Michael Graham Pownall

(1949-10-11) 11 October 1949 (age 75)
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
NationalityBritish
Spouse
Deborah Pownall
(m. 1974; died 2013)
ChildrenTwo
EducationRepton School
Alma materUniversity of Exeter

Early life and education

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Pownall was born on 11 October 1949.[1] He was educated at Repton School, then an all-boys private school in Repton, Derbyshire. He studied at the University of Exeter.[2]

Career

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He became a Clerk in the House of Lords in 1971. From 1980 to 1983 he was seconded to the Cabinet Office as Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Lords and the Government Chief Whip, serving two Leaders, Lord Soames and Baroness Young, and one Chief Whip, Lord Denham. He was Reading Clerk from 1997 to 2003, and Clerk Assistant from 2003 to 2007. From 2007 to 2011, he was Clerk of the Parliaments in the House of Lords of the United Kingdom. He retired on 15 April 2011.[3]

Personal life

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In 1974, Pownall married Deborah Ann McQueen. Together they had two daughters. Deborah died in 2013.[2]

Pownall is an Anglican Christian. He is the treasurer of St Michael and All Angels, Bedford Park, an Anglo-Catholic church in Chiswick where he lives.[4]

Honours

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In the 2011 Birthday Honours, Pownall was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB), and therefore granted the title sir.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Sir Michael Pownall, KCB Authorised Biography – Debrett's People of Today, Sir Michael Pownall, KCB Profile". Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2011. Debrett's People of Today
  2. ^ a b "POWNALL, Sir Michael (Graham)". Who's Who 2017. Oxford University Press. November 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  3. ^ https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/110117-0001.htm#1101179000435 House of Lords Hansard, 17 January 2011
  4. ^ "Parochial Church Council". St Michael and All Angels Church, Bedford Park. 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  5. ^ "No. 59808". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2011. p. 2.