Jean Nunn CB CBE | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jean Josephine Nunn (1916-07-21)21 July 1916 Abbotsham, Devon |
| Died | 24 November 1982(1982-11-24) (aged 66) Horsham, Sussex |
| Education | Royal School for Daughters of Officers of the Army |
| Alma mater | Girton College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Civil servant |
| Years active | 1938 to 1970 |
Jean Josephine Nunn,CB,CBE (21 July 1916 – 24 November 1982) was a senior Britishcivil servant. She served asPrincipal Private Secretary toJames Chuter Ede andSir David Maxwell-Fyfe, during their time asHome Secretary. She later served as Deputy Secretary of theCabinet Office. She was the first woman to be admitted to theOrder of the Bath.[1]
Nunn was born on 21 July 1916 inAbbotsham, Devon, to John Henry Nunn, and his wife, Doris Josephine Nunn (née Gregory). Her father, an officer in the Royal Field Artillery died duringWorld War I. She was educated at St Leonard's School inEaling, and at theRoyal School for Daughters of Officers of the Army, a girlsboarding school inBath, Somerset.[1]
In 1934, shematriculated intoGirton College,University of Cambridge. She studied the HistoryTripos for both Part I and Part II. She graduated in 1937Bachelor of Arts (BA), which was later promoted toMaster of Arts (MA).[1]
In 1938, Nunn joined theHome Office, having passed the examination for the administrative grade ofCivil Service. In 1941, she was appointedprivate secretary toSir Alexander Maxwell, thePermanent Under-Secretary of State of the Home Office. From 1947 to 1949, she served as Secretary to theRoyal Commission on the Press.[1]
From 1949 to 1951, she served asPrincipal Private Secretary toJames Chuter Ede, the thenHome Secretary. She was the first woman to hold this appointment. WhenSir David Maxwell Fyfe became Home Secretary, she remained on as his Principal Private Secretary.[1][2] In 1961, she was promoted toAssistant Under-Secretary of State and appointed head of the Children's Department. In 1963, she moved to theCabinet Office.[1]
In 1963, she was promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet Office.[1] She was the first woman to be appointed to that rank.[3] In 1970, she became ill and had to take early retirement. Had she not been, she was heading ultimately towards the leadership of one of the departments.[1]
Having retired in 1970, she spent the next few years being cared for by a friend. The illness that ended her Civil Service career wascerebral arteriosclerosis.[1]
On 24 November 1982, after years of declining health, she died in Oakhill House Nursing Home,Horsham, Sussex.[1] A memorial service was held for her atSt Margaret's, Westminster, on 18 January 1983. Attendees included senior civil servants and politicians.[4]
In the 1966New Year Honours, she was appointedCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services as Under-Secretary of the Cabinet Office.[5] In the 1970 New Year Honours, she was appointedCompanion of the Order of the Bath (CB), for her services as Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet Office.[6] This made her the first woman to be appointed to the Order of the Bath.[1][7]