Sir Fergus Montgomery shares experience in British Parliament
Posted September 10, 2004FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sir Fergus Montgomery, former 38-year member of the British Parliament and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher, visits York College to speak on the topic, "British Prime Ministers I Have Known," at the Music, Art and Communication Center Recital Hall on Mon., Sept. 13, 2004, at 6:30 p.m. Sir Fergus, who received knighthood in 1985, is an entertaining, humorous, witty and thought provoking speaker.
About Sir Fergus Montgomery
(William) Fergus Montgomery was born in November 1927. He was educated at Hebburn Methodist Elementary School; Jarrow Grammar School and Bede College Durham. He is married, and his wife is a member of the Greater Manchester Council, a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Great Manchester, and was also High Sheriff of Greater Manchester.
On leaving school in 1946, Sir Fergus joined the Royal Navy, in which he served until 1948. He then qualified as a teacher and was a schoolmaster from 1950-59.
Sir Fergus started his political career as a Young Conservative and was National Young Conservative Chairman from 1957-58. He was a member of the Hebburn Urban District Council from 1950-58. In the 1955 General Election, he unsuccessfully contested Consett. He was elected Member for Newcastle East in the General Election of 1959 by 98 votes and was the first Conservative ever to represent that constituency. He lost the seat in 1964.
In April 1967 he was elected MP for Brierly Hill. This constituency disappeared in the boundary redistribution, which took place at the General Election of February 1974. In the General Election of October 1974, he was elected member of Atrincham and Sale. He was returned for a fourth time in June 1987. In April 1992, Sir Fergus was returned for a fifth time with the highest majority ever achieved.
Following the 1970 General Election, Sir Fergus was elected Secretary of the Conservative Parliamentary Education Committee and became its Vice-Chairman in 1971. In 1973, he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Mrs. Margaret Thatcher when she was Secretary of State for Education and Science. After Mrs. Thatcher became Leader of the Opposition, he was her PPS from February 1975 until January 1976.
Sir Fergus Montgomery was a member of the Select Committees on Environment and Home Affairs from 1979-87. He served on the Committee of Selection from 1987 and was elected Chairman in 1992. He was also Chairman of the North West Group of Conservative MPs from 1990-97.
In the 1985 New Year Honours List, Sir Fergus Montgomery was given a knighthood.
After 38 years as a distinguished Member of Parliament, he retired in May 1997. He has lectured extensively in the U.S. at colleges, universities, clubs, and political groups.
