Leonard Lyle, 1st Baron Lyle of Westbourne

Charles Ernest Leonard Lyle, 1st Baron Lyle of Westbourne (22 July 1882 – 6 March 1954) was a British industrialist and Conservative Party politician.

Early life

He was born in London, the only son of Charles Lyle and his wife, Mary, née Brown. He was educated at Harrow School and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

Business

The family were major ship-owners who had diversified into sugar refining, and Leonard joined the firm in 1903, and became a director when his father retired in 1909. When Abram Lyle & Sons merged with Henry Tate & Sons in 1921 to form Tate & Lyle he became a director of the new company, then chairman in 1928, and president in 1937.

Lyle is best known for leading the opposition to the post-war Labour Government's plans to nationalise the sugar industry. The campaign was fronted by a cartoon character, "Mr Cube", drawn by artist Bobby St John Cooper.

Sport Lyle was a notable athlete who represented Great Britain at lawn tennis, competing the Men's singles at the Wimbledon Championships in 1922, 1923, and 1924. He became chairman of the Lawn Tennis Association in 1932, having been the first chairman of the International Lawn Tennis Club from 1924 to 1927. He was also president of the Professional Golfers' Association from 1952 to 1954, and was elected a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1952. made a baronet on 22 June 1932, and was ennobled on 13 September 1945 as Baron Lyle of Westbourne, of Canford Cliffs in the County of Dorset.

Arms