Desmond Brayley, Baron Brayley

Sir John Brayley, On 22 June 1973 Sir John was created a life peer as Baron Brayley' of the City of Cardiff in the County of Glamorgan''.

He was awarded government office in March 1974 as Under-Secretary of State for the Army. At this point he resigned as chairman of his company, and sold his shares for over £1million. After inquiries were made into a company with which he had once been involved, he signed a letter of resignation rather than cause the Prime Minister any embarrassment. Despite an initial but extensive enquiry into his business dealings nothing was ever proved before his death in 1977

He became a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London in 1970, was a justice of the peace for Middlesex, and at one time chairman and trustee of the Saints and Sinners Club in London.

Lifestyle Brayley was a wealthy self-made man who lived in some style and had the penthouse at Arlington House, Piccadilly, and also lived at Hailey House, a country house in Ipsden, Oxfordshire. He enjoyed returning to Cardiff for social occasions and to watch Wales play rugby from the balcony of his apartment. He was a keen yachtsman and owned 'Natalie' a 527 tonne, 177-foot classic motor yacht. He was also a keen angler, and civilian air pilot.

Despite his considerable wealth he never forgot his roots and was deeply affected by the poverty surrounding him when he grew up in Rhydyfelin as a boy.[citation?]

Philanthropy As well as being a Freemason, he was on the board of The Royal Artillery Association and was a member of The Grand Order of Water Rats, the show business charity organisation. He was a Freeman of the City of London, a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Patron of the Royal Masonic Hospital

Death Lord Brayley died in Cardiff after a short illness in March 1977 aged 60. His marriage was dissolved in 1960. He is survived by two daughters, two grandsons and four great grand daughters.