Sir Norman Fenwick Warren Fisher (1879-1948) GCB GCVO, known as Warren, was born in Croydon on 22 September 1879 to Henry Warren Fisher (1847-1927) and Caroline Wilford (1841-1910). Fisher attended the Dragon School in Oxford, Winchester College, and Hertford College, University of Oxford. Fisher was awarded a first in 1900 for Classical Moderations and a second in Greats in 1902.

After failing the medical for the Royal Navy, and the exams for the Indian Civil Service, he attended a crammer and re-took the Civil Service examination in 1903. After coming in fifteenth place amongst those seeking to work in the home Civil Service, Fisher began work as an upper-division clerk in the office of the Board of the Inland Revenue.

In 1906, Warren married Mary Ann Lucy Thomas (1882-1970), known as ‘Maysie’, with whom he had two sons Norman (1907-1980) and Robin (1914-1988). Warren and Maysie separated in 1921.

Over the course of his career in the Civil Service, Warren occupied various positions, including:

- Private Secretary to Sir Robert Chalmers (Chairman of the Board of the Inland Revenue), 1908-1909 - Clerk to the Special Commissioners of Income Tax, 1909-11 - Special Commissioner of Income Tax, 1911-12 - Commissioner of the Inland Revenue, 1912-1914 - Deputy Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, 1914-1918 - Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, 1918-1919 - Permanent Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, 1919-1939

In 1912, at the request of the Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George, Warren played an important role in facilitating the timely implementation of the National Health Insurance Act.

In his capacity as the Head of the Civil Service, Fisher made numerous recommendations regarding senior Civil Service positions not just in relation to the Treasury, but also the Foreign Office and the diplomatic service. Warren continually offered his support for advancing women’s careers, reportedly describing himself as a ‘feminist’.

In the lead up to the Second World War, Fisher became heavily involved in discussions relating to rearmament. Fisher called for a higher level of spending on defence and disagreed with the appeasement of Nazi Germany (though not of Japan and Italy). Warren’s opposition to the Munich Agreement led him to resign from his role as permanent secretary to the Treasury.

Following his retirement, from 1939-1940 Warren became the regional commissioner for the north-west region. From 1940-1942, he worked as a special commissioner in the London region, until he was dismissed by Herbert Morrison. After this, Fisher occupied various positions including:

- Director of Martin's Bank - Director of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company - Director of Royal Insurance - Honorary treasurer of the Royal College of Music.

Warren Fisher died in London on 25 September 1948.

**

Lady Mary Ann Lucy Fisher (née Thomas) (1882-1970), known as ‘Maysie’, was born in Colchester on 8 April 1882, the daughter of Major Edward Charles Thomas (1850-1923) and Agnes Mary McDonogh (1857-1898). Maysie married Warren Fisher in a Roman Catholic ceremony on 24 April 1906 at St Mary’s Church, Cadogan Street in London. They went on to have two sons, Norman (1907-1980) and Robin (1914-1988).

From October 1915 to January 1916, Lady Fisher worked a brief stint as a nurse for a Voluntary Aid Detachment in London. In 1917, Lady Fisher joined with Mrs Reginald McKenna, The Hon Mrs Colwin Montagu and Lady Diana Manners to help raise over £670,000 for the Red Cross on Thursday 18 October 1917.

In 1921, Warren and Maysie formally separated; Lady Fisher refused a divorce due to her Roman Catholic beliefs. In 1935, Maysie was courted by Sir Robert Woodburn Gillan (1867-1943) [see WFSH 5], who worked for the Indian Civil Service and was created a Knight Commander (KCSI) in 1916.

Maysie was a great proponent of ‘natural cures’ and received a large amount of press attention after embarking on a forty-two day fast in 1926. In 1927, Maysie was President of the Health First Association. In 1953, Maysie was a victim of fraud after ‘investing’ money with supposed bookmakers, Arthur and Rose Lawless, who were later imprisoned.

Maysie Fisher died on 6 December 1970.