Irving was born into a hotel-owning family in Cheltenham, its flagship being the Irving Hotel on the High Street, of which he became chairman in 1949.[2]
He was educated at Glengarth School, in Cheltenham, and Lucton, near Hereford, at both of which "he evinced no academic bent". When he left school during World War II he tried to join the Army but was turned down on the grounds of being "insufficiently robust". He served in the Home Guard, but was "a good deal less than successful in those ranks, the highlight of his career being the accidental stabbing of a colleague in the hindquarters with a bayonet".[2]
Political careeredit
His political career began in 1947 when he was elected to Cheltenham Borough Council.[3] The following year he was elected to Gloucestershire County Council. He was Mayor of Cheltenham 1958–1960 and again 1971–1972.
Having unsuccessfully contested Bilston in 1970 and Kingswood in February 1974, he became an MP in October 1974 at his third attempt and represented Cheltenham until his retirement in 1992. During this time he was chairman of the Select Committee on Catering from 1979 until 1992 and a member of the All Party Mental Health Committee 1979–1992. Irving was knighted in 1990.[2]
Irving was not afraid to stand up to the prime minister of the day, Margaret Thatcher, particularly over the decision to de-unioniseGovernment Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) a body located within his Cheltenham constituency, but he was also a great admirer of Thatcher: from the day she was elected leader of the Conservative Party until she resigned as Prime Minister fifteen years later, Irving paid to have fresh flowers delivered to her.[citation needed]
Referencesedit
^"Irving, Sir Charles (Graham)". Who's Who. A & C Black. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U173368. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ abcPatrick Cosgrave (3 April 1995). "Obituary of Charles Irving". The Independent. London. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
^"Obituaries Sir Charles Irving". The Independent. 3 April 1995. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
Times Guide to the House of Commons 1987 and 1992 editions, www.angeltowns.com
External linksedit
Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Charles Irving
charles, irving, politician, lieutenant, governor, penang, charles, john, irving, british, surgeon, inventor, charles, irving, surgeon, charles, graham, irving, 1924, march, 1995, british, conservative, member, parliament, cheltenham, charles, irvingmember, pa. For the Lieutenant Governor of Penang see Charles John Irving For the British surgeon and inventor see Charles Irving surgeon Sir Charles Graham Irving 4 May 1924 30 March 1995 1 was a British Conservative Member of Parliament for Cheltenham Sir Charles IrvingMember of Parliamentfor CheltenhamIn office 10 October 1974 16 March 1992Preceded byDouglas Dodds ParkerSucceeded byNigel JonesPersonal detailsBorn 1924 05 04 4 May 1924Died30 March 1995 1995 03 30 aged 70 Political partyConservative Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 References 4 External linksEarly life editIrving was born into a hotel owning family in Cheltenham its flagship being the Irving Hotel on the High Street of which he became chairman in 1949 2 He was educated at Glengarth School in Cheltenham and Lucton near Hereford at both of which he evinced no academic bent When he left school during World War II he tried to join the Army but was turned down on the grounds of being insufficiently robust He served in the Home Guard but was a good deal less than successful in those ranks the highlight of his career being the accidental stabbing of a colleague in the hindquarters with a bayonet 2 Political career editHis political career began in 1947 when he was elected to Cheltenham Borough Council 3 The following year he was elected to Gloucestershire County Council He was Mayor of Cheltenham 1958 1960 and again 1971 1972 Having unsuccessfully contested Bilston in 1970 and Kingswood in February 1974 he became an MP in October 1974 at his third attempt and represented Cheltenham until his retirement in 1992 During this time he was chairman of the Select Committee on Catering from 1979 until 1992 and a member of the All Party Mental Health Committee 1979 1992 Irving was knighted in 1990 2 Irving was not afraid to stand up to the prime minister of the day Margaret Thatcher particularly over the decision to de unionise Government Communications Headquarters GCHQ a body located within his Cheltenham constituency but he was also a great admirer of Thatcher from the day she was elected leader of the Conservative Party until she resigned as Prime Minister fifteen years later Irving paid to have fresh flowers delivered to her citation needed References edit Irving Sir Charles Graham Who s Who A amp C Black 2007 doi 10 1093 ww 9780199540884 013 U173368 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b c Patrick Cosgrave 3 April 1995 Obituary of Charles Irving The Independent London Retrieved 11 May 2008 Obituaries Sir Charles Irving The Independent 3 April 1995 Retrieved 5 April 2024 Times Guide to the House of Commons 1987 and 1992 editions www angeltowns comExternal links editHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Charles Irving Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byDouglas Dodds Parker Member of Parliament for CheltenhamOctober 1974 1992 Succeeded byNigel Jones nbsp nbsp nbsp This article about a Conservative Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom representing an English constituency and born in the 1920s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Irving politician amp oldid 1217425166, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
