institution of large unitary councils based on the principle of mixing rural and urban areas. Accepted by the Labour government of Harold Wilson with minor changes, the opposition from rural areas convinced the Conservative opposition to oppose it and no further action was taken after the Conservatives won the 1970 general election. Retirement He retired as Master of University College in 1976, to be succeeded by the leading lawyer Lord Goodman. His 1973 portrait by Ruskin Spear can be seen in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Another portrait hangs in the Hall at University College in Oxford. Family Redcliffe-Maud was married to Jean Hamilton, who was educated at Somerville College, Oxford. His son, Humphrey Maud, was one of Benjamin Britten's favourite boys while he was at Eton. Sir John intervened to curtail Humphrey's frequent visits to stay with Britten on his own. The incident is described in John Bridcut's Britten's Children. Death and legacy John Redcliffe-Maud is buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford. His archive is held by the London School of Economics Library. Redcliffe-Maud House at the University College Annexe known as "Stavertonia" in North Oxford is named in honour of him. Books Redcliffe-Maud, John, Experiences of an Optimist: The Memoirs of John Redcliffe-Maud. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1981. (.) Redcliffe-Maud, Lord, & Wood, Bruce, English Local Government Reformed. Oxford University Press, 1974. . References External links Catalogue of the Redcliffe-Maud papers at the Archives Division of the London School of Economics. Civil servants from Bristol Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to South Africa Commissioners of the Bechuanaland Protectorate 1906 births 1982 deaths People educated at Summer Fields School People educated at Eton College Alumni of New College, Oxford Harvard University alumni Fellows of University College, Oxford [[Category:Masters of Birkbeck, University of L Life peers created by Elizabeth II Masters of University College, Oxford Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Education Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Power Civil servants in the Ministry of Food Civil servants in the Ministry of Reconstruction 1950s in Bechuanaland Protectorate 1960s in Bechuanaland Protectorate 1960s in South Africa Burials at Holywell Cemetery