11 Facts About Terry Major-Ball

Terry Major-Ball was a British columnist, banker and media personality who was the elder brother of the former British prime minister John Major.

Terry Major-Ball was born in 1932, and grew up in Worcester Park, Surrey.

Terry Major-Ball's father, Tom Major-Ball, was a music hall performer and circus artiste under the name Tom Major, and combined the two surnames when he started a garden ornament business.

Terry Major-Ball's mother, Gwen, Tom's second wife, was a dancer.

Unlike his elder sister Pat and younger brother John, Major-Ball failed his 11 plus exam and went to Stoneleigh East Secondary Modern School.

Terry Major-Ball later became a meter installer for South Eastern Electricity Board and a banker.

Terry Major-Ball first came to the spotlight in November 1990, when his brother John became Prime Minister after the Conservative leadership election.

Terry Major-Ball always remained loyal to his brother and, amongst other things, kept secret his knowledge of the affair between Major and Edwina Currie and the details of a secret half-brother.

Terry Major-Ball later went to Christchurch, New Zealand, to open a garden gnome festival.

Terry Major-Ball had columns in The Daily Express, The Daily Mail and The Guardian.

Terry Major-Ball made a BBC2 travel programme called A Postcard to my Brother, where he visited France, Germany and Poland.