12 Facts About Cyril Townsend

Sir Cyril David Townsend was a British politician.

Cyril Townsend was commissioned in 1958 into the Durham Light Infantry.

Cyril Townsend served during the end of the Cyprus Emergency.

Cyril Townsend was the Hong Kong Governor's aide-de-camp from 1964 to 1966, and in March 1968, after two years serving as adjutant to the first battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, retired from the army at the rank of captain.

In February 1974 Cyril Townsend was elected with a majority of 3686 votes, despite his party being defeated overall and the seat being considered marginal.

Cyril Townsend criticised Geoffrey Howe's 1981 budget and in November 1982 was the only Conservative MP to oppose benefit cuts.

Cyril Townsend was pro-European, advocating Britain's membership of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.

Cyril Townsend criticised Thatcher for her Euroscepticism, which led to him supporting Michael Heseltine in the 1990 Tory leadership election.

Cyril Townsend served as joint chair during the 1980s, and became joint president in 1996.

Cyril Townsend served as an observer for the European Union at the 1996 Palestinian elections.

Cyril Townsend was a respected journalist who wrote for several Middle Eastern newspapers, and was a regular contributor to the Western Morning News.

In 1976 Cyril Townsend married Anita Walshe, with whom he had two sons, Hugh and John.