William Malcolm Hailey

In the west cloister of Westminster Abbey is a memorial tablet to Indian administrator William Malcolm Hailey, Lord Hailey of Shahpur and Newport Pagnell. The memorial shows a profile relief portrait within a grey marble frame. It was designed by Stephen Dykes Bower, the Abbey Surveyor of the Fabric, and unveiled on 18th May 1971. The inscription is painted in red and was written by Sir Olaf Caroe. It reads:

1872 1969 Here remember William Malcolm Hailey of the Indian Civil Service, Baron Hailey of Shahpur and Newport Pagnell O.M. G.C.S.I. G.C.M.G. G.C.I.E. Ruler of great provinces in India, in Africa no less renowned for labours which gave shape to African freedom. Mature in youth, youthful in old age, adorned with grace of wit, wise, kind, faithful in friendship, in all his dealings tolerant and humane. Justum et tenacem propositi virum [a man of just and firm purpose]

He was born at Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire on 15th February 1872, a son of Hammett Hailey, a doctor, and his wife Maria (Clode). He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and Corpus Christi college Oxford. In 1896 he married Andreina Balzani. Their son Allan was killed in the second world war and their daughter Gemma died young. Hailey spent much of his working life in India and became governor of the Punjab in 1924. He was given a peerage in 1936 and held the Order of Merit. In 1934 he retired from Indian affairs and toured Africa. His book An African Survey was published and he played a prominent role in colonial reform in that country after 1945. He died at Putney on 1st June 1969 and his ashes were taken for burial in the family vault at Simla in India.