Sir David Lincoln Lightbown (30 November 1932 – 12 December 1995) was a British politician who was the Conservative Member of Parliament for South East Staffordshire from 1983 until his death.
Sir David Lightbown | |
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Comptroller of the Household | |
In office 28 November 1990 – 12 December 1995 | |
Prime Minister | John Major |
Preceded by | Tony Durant |
Succeeded by | Timothy Wood |
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | |
In office 25 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 | |
Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
Preceded by | Tony Durant |
Succeeded by | John Taylor |
Lord Commissioner of the Treasury | |
In office 26 July 1987 – 25 July 1990 | |
Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
Preceded by | Second Thatcher ministry |
Succeeded by | Irvine Patnick |
Member of Parliament for South East Staffordshire | |
In office 9 June 1983 – 12 December 1995 | |
Preceded by | Constituency created |
Succeeded by | Brian Jenkins |
Personal details | |
Born | Derby, England | 30 November 1932
Died | 12 December 1995 London, England | (aged 63)
Spouse |
Ann Palmer (m. 1960) |
Alma mater | Derby Technical College |
Background
editLightbown was born Derby in 1932, and attended the Derby School and Derby Technical College.[1] He was an engineering executive who had an adversarial relationship with the Transport and General Workers' Union.[1]
Political career
editLightbown was elected to the Lichfield District Council in 1975, and served as its leader from 1977 to 1986.[1] In 1977, he was also elected to the Staffordshire County Council, where he served until 1985.[1] He entered Parliament in 1983.[1] He served as a government whip, and his imposing physique and reputation for robust methods led to him being branded "the Terminator".[2]
Lightbown held right-wing views, endorsing capital punishment and advertising on the BBC, as well as supporting England's 1984 rugby union tour of South Africa under apartheid.[1][3] He opposed the ordination of divorced men in the Church of England.[1]
Personal life and death
editLightbown married Ann Palmer in 1960.[1][4] On 12 December 1995, he was watching The Varsity Match at Twickenham Stadium, when he collapsed and died at the age of 63.[5] The resulting by-election for his seat was won by the Labour Party candidate Brian Jenkins.
His widow, Lady Lightbown, contested his successor seat of Tamworth at the 1997 general election but was defeated by Brian Jenkins.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h "Sir David Lightbown". The Daily Telegraph. 13 December 1995. p. 27.
- ^ "Dark rumours in Westminster over Tory whips' behaviour". The Guardian. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
- ^ Kirkhope, Timothy (14 December 1995). "OBITUARY: Sir David Lightbown". The Independent. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ Jones, George; Johnston, Philip (13 December 1995). "Major faces a majority of three". The Daily Telegraph. p. 1.
- ^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | Tamworth". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- Times Guide to the House of Commons, Times Newspapers Limited, 1992.