30 Facts About Bernard Weatherill

Bernard Weatherill served as Speaker of the House of Commons between 1983 and 1992.

Bernard Weatherill married Lyn Eatwell in 1949 and they had three children.

Bernard Weatherill became Director, Managing Director, and Chairman of the business.

Bernard Weatherill resumed his role with the company after his retirement from the House of Commons in 1992, as president until the firm was acquired by others in 2003.

Bernard Weatherill was a member of three City of London Livery Companies: the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors, the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, and the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers.

Bernard Weatherill became a Freeman of the City of London in 1949, and of the London Borough of Croydon in 1983.

Bernard Weatherill enlisted as a private in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry of the British Army a few days after the start of World War II.

Bernard Weatherill was attached to 19th King George V's Own Lancers, Indian Army, after being posted to Burma.

Bernard Weatherill was discharged from the Army in 1946, having served for seven years.

Bernard Weatherill was elected Member of Parliament on 15 October 1964 for Croydon North East as a Conservative.

Bernard Weatherill became a party whip three years later, and deputy Chief Whip six years after that.

Bernard Weatherill was re-elected seven times for the same seat until his retirement in 1992.

From October 1971 to April 1973, Bernard Weatherill was Vice-Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household, an office usually held by a Government whip, as Bernard Weatherill then was.

Bernard Weatherill wrote a letter to the Queen at the end of each day the House of Commons met, describing the debates, reactions, and political gossip.

Bernard Weatherill's letters are believed to have been more entertaining than the debates themselves.

Bernard Weatherill is the most recent Speaker to have served in Government prior to the Speakership; his successors have all been longtime backbench MPs.

In 1979, Bernard Weatherill played a critical role in the defeat of the Labour government in a vote of confidence.

Harrison was so impressed by Bernard Weatherill's offer that he released Bernard Weatherill from his obligation, and the Government fell by one vote.

Bernard Weatherill was sworn of the Privy Council on 8 January 1980.

Bernard Weatherill was Speaker of the House of Commons from 1983 to 1992.

Bernard Weatherill was the last Speaker to wear a wig while in the chair.

Bernard Weatherill commented that the wig is a wonderful device that allows the Speaker to pretend not to hear some things.

Bernard Weatherill enforced the rights of Parliament to be publicly told of government policies before they were announced to the press or elsewhere.

Bernard Weatherill stood down in 1992, and was made a life peer on 15 July 1992 taking the title Baron Weatherill, of North East Croydon in the London Borough of Croydon.

Bernard Weatherill sat in the House of Lords as a crossbencher, the convention for former Speakers, irrespective of their previous party affiliation.

Bernard Weatherill resigned both of those offices at the end of 1998 in protest at the manner in which the Dean and Chapter dealt with terminating the employment of the organist.

Bernard Weatherill was Vice-Chancellor of the British charitable Order of St John from 1983 to 2000, and was a knight of the Order from 1992.

Bernard Weatherill was a member of the European Reform Forum.

Bernard Weatherill was an advocate of vegetarianism and appeared at the first Vegetarian Rally in Hyde Park, London in 1990, alongside Tony Benn.

Bernard Weatherill once stated, "as a lifelong vegetarian I believe that since man cannot give life he has no moral right to take it away".