Laurence Helsby was born on 27 April 1908 and educated at Sedbergh School in Cumbria, before studying at Keble College, Oxford.

In 1963, he was made joint Permanent Secretary to the Treasury and Head of the Home Civil Service.

Following his retirement, he was created a life peer on 21 May 1968 with the title Baron Helsby, of Logmore in the County of Surrey.

[1][2] Helsby was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1950 New Year Honours,[3] and was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 1963 New Year Honours;[4] he had also been previously knighted (KBE) in the 1955 New Year Honours.

He married in 1938 to Wölmett whom he had met whilst teaching at Durham.