Humphrey Atkins

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Template:Short description Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". Humphrey Edward Gregory Atkins, Baron Colnbrook, Script error: No such module "If empty". (12 August 1922 – 4 October 1996) was a British politician and a member of the Conservative Party. He served for 32 years as a Member of Parliament (MP), and served in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher from 1979 to 1982.[1]

Early life

Atkins was born on 12 August 1922, in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, son of Captain Edward Davis Atkins and Violet Mary (née Preston).[2] His family spent his first few years in Kenya, returning to England after his father died from being attacked by a rhinoceros.[2] Atkins was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire, and served in the Royal Navy from 1940 to 1948.[2]

In 1944, Atkins married Margaret Spencer-Nairn.[2] They had four children, three daughters and one son.[3] He worked for Nairn's, his wife's family's linoleum business in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, then became a director of a financial advertising agency.[2]

Political career

Atkins contested the constituency of West Lothian in 1951, and was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Merton and Morden in 1955.[4] He became MP for Spelthorne in 1970.[5]

Atkins was the Conservative Chief Whip from 1973 to 1979, and served as a Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 1979 to 1981. In September 1981, he was appointed as Lord Privy Seal, which was a role as the chief government spokesman in the House of Commons for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. This role was necessary because the Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, sat in the House of Lords. He resigned in April 1982, along with Lord Carrington, over the Falklands invasion.[6]

Atkins was appointed to the Order of St Michael and St George as a Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1983 Dissolution Honours.[7] He left the House of Commons in 1987 and was created a life peer on 16 October as Baron Colnbrook, of Waltham St Lawrence in the Royal County of Berkshire.[3][8]

Death

Atkins died from cancer on 4 October 1996, aged 74, at home in Waltham St Lawrence, Berkshire.[2]

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Template:Link note
  3. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ UK Parliament website, Merton and Morden
  5. ↑ UK Parliament website, Spelthorne
  6. ↑ CAIN website, Atkins, Humphrey Edward Gregory
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".

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External links

Template:Error
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Member of Parliament for Merton and Morden
1955–1970 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Member of Parliament for Spelthorne
1970–1987 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Commons
Treasurer of the Household
1970–1973 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Chief Whip of the Conservative Party
1973–1979 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
1973–1974 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
1979–1981 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Lord Privy Seal
1981–1982 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Conservative Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Commons
1970–1973 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Template:Thatcher Ministry Template:Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland Template:Conservative Chief Whips Script error: No such module "Navbox".

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