About John

           

I have been Member of Parliament for Bournemouth West since 1983.

Pam and I have been married since 1965 and we have three daughters, one son and seven grandchildren!

Pam and I celebrating my 20th anniversary as the Member of Parliament for Bournemouth West at the Suncliffe Hotel, Bournemouth.

I was honoured to be appointed a Knight Batchelor on the 31st December, 2003, for services to Parliament.	Celebrating my knighthood at the House of Commons with my family.

Education

College of Estate Management, London (LSE)

Caterham School (County Scholar)

Political career

• First elected to Bournemouth West in 1983
• Re-elected in 1987, 1992, 1997, 2001 and 2005
• Previously fought Croydon N.W. By-Election in 1981 and London South Inner European Election in 1979
• Successfully piloted 3 Private Members’ Bills through Parliament:  Registered Homes (Amendment) Act 1991, the Insolvency (Amendment) Act 1994 and the Policy Holders Protection Act 1997.

Parliamentary appointments

House of Commons (present)

• Member of the Speaker’s Panel of Chairmen 1996-
• Member of the Select Committee on Unopposed Bills 1995-
• Chairman of Trustees of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund 2001-
• Member of Parliamentary Court of Referees 1995-
• Member of Executive Committee & Finance & Audit Committee, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 2004-

House of Commons (past)

• Chairman of Trustees, Parliamentary members’ Fund 1997-2002
• Trustee of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund 1997-2001
• Member of Trade & Industry Select Committee 1992-2001

Conservative Party

• Joint Vice-Chairman, 1922 Committee 1997-2001 and 2005-2006 (Hon Treasurer, 2001-05;  Secretary, 1996-97)
• Chairman, Conservative Party Rules Committee, 1998-2002
• Member, Conservative Party Constitutional Committee, 1998-
• Vice-Chairman, Conservative Friends of Israel Parliamentary Group 1995-

All Party

• Chairman, All Party Group on Occupational Pensions 1992-
• Vice-Chairman, All Party Group on Building Societies & Financial Mutual Institutions 1997- (Secretary 1996-97)
• Joint Secretary, All Party Group on Insurance & Financial Services 1997-
• Vice Chairman, All Party Group on Pensioner Incomes 2004-
• Vice Chairman, All Party Group on Modern Languages 2008-

Other past appointments

• Appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Cecil Parkinson (Secretary of State for Energy, 1988-89, Secretary of State for Transport, 1989-1990).  Appointed PPS to Brian Mawhinney, Minister of State for Northern Ireland, 1991-92.
• Vice-President, Conservative Group for Europe, 1992-95 (Chairman 1989-92).
• Honorary Parliamentary Adviser, Mirror Group Newspapers Pension Trustees (following collapse of Maxwell Group)
• Vice-Chairman, Conservative Parliamentary Finance Committee 1992-2000.
• Vice-Chairman, Foreign Affairs Forum 1983-92.
• Vice-Chairman, Conservative Parliamentary Tourism Committee, 1985-88.
• Secretary, Conservative Parliamentary Trade & Industry Committee, 1987-88 & 1991.
• Vice-Chairman, Guildford Conservative Association
• Chairman, Addlestone Young Conservatives

Public appointments

• Member of the Courts of Reading, Southampton & Exeter Universities
• Numerous voluntary appointments to local trade and charitable organisations
• Member of the Council of Management of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)
• President, Youth Cancer Trust
• President, Dorset & New Forest Safe Water Society
• Trustee, Streetwise Partnership Trust, Bournemouth
• Vice-President, British Resorts Association
• Patron, Jigsaw Appeal, Royal Bournemouth Hospital
• Patron, Fernheath Play Association

Business career

• Partner, Butterfill Associates
• Consultant, Curchod & Co..
• Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• Chairman of Gold Island Limited

Previous appointments

• President, European Property Associates, 1980-2003
• Senior Partner, Curchod & Co., Chartered Surveyors, 1977-92
• Managing Director, St Paul’s Securities Group & Danish subsidiary, 1971-77
• Director, Audley Properties (Bovis Group) & Bovis SA (France), 1968-71
• Senior Executive, Hammerson Group 1964-68
• Valuer, Jones Lang Wootton, 1962-64
• Numerous non-executive appointments in the fields of construction, IT, retail and recruitment