Michael Marshall (politician)

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For other people named Michael Marshall, see Michael Marshall (disambiguation).

Sir Robert Michael Marshall,

DL
(21 June 1930 – 6 September 2006), usually known as Michael Marshall, was a British businessman, politician, cricketer and author.

After a career in the steel industry, he was Conservative Member of Parliament for Arundel for 23 years, from the February 1974 general election until the constituency was abolished in 1997.

He was the first MP with an

Harvard, and was a junior government minister in Margaret Thatcher's first government, from 1979 to 1981. He was heavily engaged with the Inter-Parliamentary Union
, and had interests in theatre, cricket, golf, and wrote a number of books.

Early and private life

Marshall was born in Sheffield. His father was a printer, and his mother performed in music hall. He was educated at Bradfield College before began he a business career.

He joined

management consultant
in 1969.

He married Caroline Oliphant in 1972, acquiring two stepdaughters.

Political career

He joined the Young Conservatives in 1950, but remained relatively inactive in politics until 1970, when he contested The Hartlepools, a safe Labour seat. He became MP for Arundel in the February 1974 general election,[1] and retained his seat until his retirement from politics in 1997.

In Parliament, his knowledge of the steel industry made him an effective critic of Sir

denationalisation of Cable & Wireless and the launch of Teletext
.

Marshall returned to the

Pitcom
, becoming its chairman in 1987.

He was closely involved with the

knighted and appointed a deputy lieutenant of West Sussex
in 1990.

He retired at the

The Catholic Herald
in 2003.

Outside politics

Marshall was a keen

Nepal. He captained the Lords and Commons Cricket XI, was a member of the MCC, and was active in the Lord's Taverners. He also commentated on cricket in India for the BBC, and was a member of the All India Radio Test match panel during his 10 years working in India. He also played golf, and was a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and a club near Worthing
.

He was also an author. He published Top Hat and Tails in 1979, a biography of

Gentlemen versus Players cricket matches held between English first-class cricket amateurs and their professional colleagues from 1919 to 1962; Cricket at the Castle in 1995, about cricket at Arundel Castle Cricket Club; and More Sussex Seams in 1999. He also wrote five plays for television, and biographies for radio, and edited two volumes of monologues by Stanley Holloway
, published in 1979 and 1980, as well as The Book of Comic and Dramatic Monologues, published in 1981.

He was interested in the

Bafta. He was a trustee of the Theatres Trust from 1987 to 1999, and became Chairman of the Chichester Festival Theatre Trust in 1997. He was a member of the Garrick Club and the Beefsteak Club. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 1998, but continued to be active. He died in Chichester and his funeral was held at Slindon Roman Catholic Church. At his subsequent memorial service at Arundel Cathedral, John Major gave an address.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - UK Parliament - Arundel Race - Feb 28, 1974".
  2. ^ "Sir John Major's Tribute to Sir Michael Marshall - 8th December 2006". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency Member of Parliament
for Arundel
1974–1997 		Constituency abolished
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