Philip Harris, Baron Harris of Peckham

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Philip Charles Harris, Baron Harris of Peckham (born 15 September in Peckham South London, 1942) is a Conservative member of the House of Lords and businessman.

[edit] Biography

[edit] Business Interests

Harris is the chairman of Carpetright plc and has over 40 years’ experience in carpet retailing and is one of the best known names in the business. He was Chairman and Chief Executive of Harris Carpets. Harris Carpets acquired Queensway in 1977 to become Harris Queensway plc until the company was taken over in 1988. Lord Harris was also a Non-Executive Director of Great Universal Stores plc for 18 years, retiring from the GUS Board in July 2004. Lord Harris became a non-executive director of Matalan in October 2004.

He was appointed to the board of Arsenal Football Club as a non-executive director in November 2005. He owns through holding companies 53 shares, representing 0.00085% of the Company.

[edit] Other

He was made a Life peer as Baron Harris of Peckham, of Peckham in the London Borough of Southwark in 1996.

He has contributed extensively to education. Harris Manchester College, Oxford bears his name. Many secondary schools in Southwark have received Harris donations. In the London Borough of Croydon, he helped to found the Harris City Technology College and the Harris Academy South Norwood though many local residents are angered that the original name of the School, Stanley Techical, will be dropped in place of the Harris name.^{[citation needed]}

The Lord ranked 206th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2006, with an estimated wealth of £285m. (2004 162nd £254m, 2005 192nd £250m).

Harris made donations to David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party. He is considered to be one of his personal friends.