Following the murder of Airey Neave just before the 1979 general election, Benyon became the new candidate to be Member of Parliament (MP) for the Conservative stronghold of Abingdon, which he won with ease. However, in 1983, the seat was abolished in boundary changes, and Benyon did not stand for the Oxford West and Abingdon or Wantage seats that replaced it. He has not stood for Parliament since.
In 2002, Tom and Olivia Jane Benyon, with James Pringle, Sue Gibbs, Clare Hayns, James Maberly and the Rev David Streater, founded a charity called ZANE. It was spearheaded by Tom Benyon after he met Cathy Olds whose husband Martin was hacked to death in Zimbabwe the previous year, in 2001, when their farm was occupied by Robert Mugabe loyalists.[2]
In 2005 he was elected for a five-year term, as a lay representative of the Diocese of Oxford, to the General Synod of the Church of England. He remains an active member of the Church.[3]
Honoursedit
Benyon was appointed OBE in recognition of his "services to vulnerable people in Zimbabwe".[4]
Referencesedit
^"Letter from the Headmaster" (PDF). The Abingdonian.
thomas, benyon, thomas, yates, benyon, born, august, 1942, newmarket, west, suffolk, british, activist, former, conservative, party, politician, contents, early, life, parliamentary, career, other, work, honours, references, external, linksearly, life, editben. Thomas Yates Benyon OBE born 13 August 1942 Newmarket West Suffolk is a British activist and former Conservative Party politician Contents 1 Early life 2 Parliamentary career 3 Other work 4 Honours 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editBenyon was educated at Wellington School Somerset from 1956 to 1960 Parliamentary career editBenyon twice stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in Labour held seats In February 1974 he contested Huyton in Merseyside against the former and future Prime Minister Harold Wilson In the following election in October that year he contested Wood Green in London but was again beaten this time by the Labour incumbent Joyce Butler Following the murder of Airey Neave just before the 1979 general election Benyon became the new candidate to be Member of Parliament MP for the Conservative stronghold of Abingdon which he won with ease However in 1983 the seat was abolished in boundary changes and Benyon did not stand for the Oxford West and Abingdon or Wantage seats that replaced it He has not stood for Parliament since Other work editHe was on the governing body of Abingdon School from 1979 to 1983 1 In 2002 Tom and Olivia Jane Benyon with James Pringle Sue Gibbs Clare Hayns James Maberly and the Rev David Streater founded a charity called ZANE It was spearheaded by Tom Benyon after he met Cathy Olds whose husband Martin was hacked to death in Zimbabwe the previous year in 2001 when their farm was occupied by Robert Mugabe loyalists 2 In 2005 he was elected for a five year term as a lay representative of the Diocese of Oxford to the General Synod of the Church of England He remains an active member of the Church 3 Honours editBenyon was appointed OBE in recognition of his services to vulnerable people in Zimbabwe 4 References edit Letter from the Headmaster PDF The Abingdonian Background Zane Casinos Synod urges fight on gambling The Church Times New Year honours list Diplomatic service and overseas The Guardian 31 December 2009 Times Guide to the House of Commons 1979 amp 1983 Leigh Rayment s Historical List of MPs Constituencies beginning with A part 1 External links editHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Thomas Benyon Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byAirey Neave Member of Parliament for Abingdon1979 1983 Constituency abolished nbsp nbsp nbsp This article about a Conservative Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom representing an English constituency and born in the 1940s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Benyon amp oldid 1221215838, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
