Richard Hornby
Richard Hornby | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Tonbridge | |
| In office 7 June 1956 – 8 February 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Gerald Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Phipps Hornby 20 June 1922 Lancashire, England |
| Died | 22 September 2007 (aged 85) Wiltshire, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Stella Hichens (m. 1951) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent | Hugh Hornby (father) |
| Profession | Business |
Richard Phipps Hornby (20 June 1922 – 22 September 2007) was a British
Early and private life
Hornby was born in
Hornby was a scholar at
After completing his studies after the war, he taught history at
Political career
He fought (and lost) as Conservative candidate for Walthamstow West in the 1955 general election, losing to the incumbent, leader of the Labour Party and former prime minister Clement Attlee. He also contested, and lost, the by-election in March 1956 after Attlee moved to the House of Lords as Earl Attlee. Hornby was finally elected Member of Parliament at the by-election in June 1956 for the safe Conservative seat of Tonbridge, although, against a local Labour politician and with the unpopular government of Anthony Eden, the Conservative majority was cut to barely 1,600 votes.
He was
His liberal views led to trouble in his constituency—he supported sanctions against Ian Smith's regime in Rhodesia, and supported the abolition of capital punishment. A true "wet", he served until the constituency was abolished in boundary changes at the February 1974 general election. Declining the opportunity to stand in the new safe seat of Royal Tunbridge Wells, he returned full-time to J. Walter Thompson, becoming a director.
Later life
He joined the London board of the
He enjoyed outdoor activities—hill-walking, fishing, shooting and bird-watching. He died in Bowerchalke in Wiltshire. One son predeceased him. He was survived by his wife and three of their children.
See also
Notes
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/99092. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)