Anthony St John, 22nd Baron St John of Bletso

Anthony Tudor St John, 22nd Baron St John of Bletso (born 16 May 1957) is a British peer, politician, businessman and solicitor. He is one of the ninety hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after the House of Lords Act 1999. He speaks on African affairs (and is a notable expert on South Africa and Sierra Leone), deregulation, financial services and information technology. Rather than aligning with a particular political party, he remains a crossbencher.

Life and career

Born to Andrew St John, 21st Baron St John of Bletso, he succeeded to his father's titles in 1978. He was educated at the University of Cape Town, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science, and at the University of South Africa, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law. He was further educated at the London School of Economics and received a Master of Law.

Between 1985 and 2002, he worked as an oil analyst at County NatWest Securities and then Smith New Court Plc and thereafter served as a consultant to Merrill Lynch until 2008. He built up the Internet Datacentre business of Globix Corporation in the UK and then became President of Global Sales and Marketing for the International Group. Between 2004 and 2012, he was Non-Executive Chairman of Spiritel Plc, a telecommunications service provider and served as a Non-Executive Director at Regal Petroleum, Sharp Interpak, WMRC and Pecaso. He has also been on the Advisory Board of Infinity SDC, Chayton Capital and Ariya Capital with the focus on agriculture and business opportunities in Africa. He is a Non-Executive Director of Albion Ventures LLP and Chairman of the Governing Board of Certification International. His company, African Business Solutions, assists International companies seeking to invest in Africa specifically in infrastructure, broadband, financial services and renewable energy. Lord St John is also an extra Lord-in-Waiting to HM The Queen. He is currently a Member of the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications as well as the Lords Information Committee. He is Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary South Africa Group, an Executive Committee Member of the All Party Africa Group and a Council Member of the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee. He served as Chairman of the charity, Citizens Online from 2001 to 2008.

His special interests are foreign affairs, particularly Africa, clean technology, wildlife conservation and sport. He plays a proactive role in the charitable sector, as a trustee of 7 charities mostly focused on Africa. He is also Chairman of Alexandra Rose Charities.

Personal life

He was married to Helen (née Westlake), a past Miss England and doctor of medicine. They have four children. Marriage dissolved in 2012 . Remarried Sabina McTaggart in October 2015.

He enjoys tennis, golf, skiing and running.

Ancestry

Family of Anthony St John, 22nd Baron St John of Bletso

16. St Andrew St John, 15th Baron St John of Bletso               8. Beauchamp St John, 17th Baron St John of Bletso                       17. Eleanor Hussey               4. Rowland St John                             18. Harry Thornton               9. Helen Charlotte Thornton                       19. Caroline Christos               2. Andrew St John, 21st Baron St John of Bletso                                   20. Charles Day Lockwood               10. Sir Frank Lockwood                       21. Jane Haines Mitchell               5. Katherine Madge Lockwood                             22. Salis Schwabe               11. Julia Rosetta Salis Schwabe                       23. Julie (Schwabe)               1. Anthony St John, 22nd Baron St John of Bletso                                         24.               12.                       25.               6. Alfred G Berg                             26.               13.                       27.               3. Katherine Berg                                   28.               14.                       29.               7.                             30.               15.                       31.

External links

• The Saint John family, bedfordshire.gov.uk

Peerage of England
Preceded by Andrew St John	Baron St John of Bletso 1978–present	Incumbent Heir: Oliver Beauchamp St. John, b. 11 July 1995