David Lightbown Explained

Sir David Lightbown
Office1:Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Primeminister1:Margaret Thatcher
Term Start1:25 July 1990
Term End1:28 November 1990
Predecessor1:Tony Durant
Successor1:John Taylor
Office:Comptroller of the Household
Primeminister:John Major
Term Start:28 November 1990
Term End:12 December 1995
Predecessor:Tony Durant
Successor:Timothy Wood
Office2:Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
Primeminister2:Margaret Thatcher
Term Start2:26 July 1987
Term End2:25 July 1990
Predecessor2:Second Thatcher ministry
Successor2:Irvine Patnick
Office3:Member of Parliament
for South East Staffordshire
Term Start3:9 June 1983
Term End3:12 December 1995
Predecessor3:Constituency created
Successor3:Brian Jenkins
Birth Date:30 November 1932
Birth Place:Derby, England
Death Place:London, England
Alma Mater:Derby Technical College

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.

Background

Lightbown 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

Lightbown 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

Lightbown 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

  1. News: Sir David Lightbown. 13 December 1995. The Daily Telegraph. 27. subscription.
  2. Web site: Dark rumours in Westminster over Tory whips' behaviour. 15 December 2017. The Guardian. 16 December 2017.
  3. Web site: 14 December 1995 . OBITUARY: Sir David Lightbown . Kirkhope. Timothy . 14 June 2023 . The Independent . en.
  4. Web site: Index entry. 17 September 2023. FreeBMD. ONS.
  5. News: Major faces a majority of three. Jones. George. Johnston. Philip. George Jones (journalist). 13 December 1995. The Daily Telegraph. subscription. 1.
  6. Web site: BBC NEWS VOTE 2001 RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES Tamworth . 14 June 2023 . news.bbc.co.uk.