Paul Channon, who was a Cabinet Minister in the Thatcher Government has died. He was Conservative MP for Southend West from 1959 to 1997 and entered the Thatcher Cabinet in 1986 as Trade Secretary. He later became Secretary of State for Transport in 1987 before leaving the Cabinet in 1989. In 1997 he was made a Life Peer as Lord Kelvedon of Ongar.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Former Transport Minister Dies
Paul Channon, who was a Cabinet Minister in the Thatcher Government has died. He was Conservative MP for Southend West from 1959 to 1997 and entered the Thatcher Cabinet in 1986 as Trade Secretary. He later became Secretary of State for Transport in 1987 before leaving the Cabinet in 1989. In 1997 he was made a Life Peer as Lord Kelvedon of Ongar.
A man sadly marked by tragedy. He was 'Chips' Channon's son of course and held his father's seat in a way that would have the press screaming nepotism these days but which was not unnatural for those times.
ReplyDeleteHis daugher Olivia met her death in the company of the louche von Bismarck. Who I seem to recall was in the papers recently for another young person's death in his company.
One is unfortunate, as Lady Bracknell said ......
How old was Mr. Channon Iain, and what did he die of? I didn't think he was terribly old. To save others googling it, he was born on 9 Oct. 1935, so was 71.
ReplyDeleteSorry to be ignorant, but who was Paul Channon? Sad fot his family etc, but he seems to me to be like Andrew Smith, Jim Prior, Gavin Strang, Anthony Barber, Ann Taylor, etc. All Cabinet members, all seemed to have kept INCREADIBLY low profiles in their career.
ReplyDeleteI remember him well enough for being a gentleman and for doing a good job.
ReplyDeleteSadly such chaps aren't that well known as he was honest and hard working and kept his nose clean, which sadly doesn't get noticed in the same way as theatrical histrionics, sexual shenanigans or incompetent performance.
Who the fuck was "Chips" Channon, raedwald? WTF is or was the "louche von Bismarck"? Are we all automatically expected to know about these arcane historical relics of bourgeois society and graciously acknowledge their passing? Who are you - someone from a PG Wodehouse novel? Bill Deedes?
ReplyDeleteanonymous 8.45 pm
ReplyDeleteNice to see that Jade Goody is back in polite society and demonstrating her knowledge of 20th Century politics.
I met Paul Channon only once, when he was up in this neck of the woods, visiting family. He struck me as a perfect gentleman and I've heard the same from anyone who had dealings with him.
There's worse ways to be remembered than that.
anonymous 8.45 pm / Jade
ReplyDeletehttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2330658,00.html
Follow this link to find out a bit more about Count Gottfried von Bismarck
Re: Anon 8.45
ReplyDelete'Chips' was anything but a model of bourgeois rectitude; a voracious bisexual man at a time when such things attracted imprisonment he never gained high office but his diaries are really well worth a read.
At least you seem to have grasped the Wilde reference, so I like to think there's hope yet ....
Chips' diaries were truly magnificent.
ReplyDeleteThe State Opening of Parliament. 26th October 1950
That ghastly Nancy Astor looked magnificently haggard… Looking at the incredibly romantic and moving scene she announced ‘I hate the Peerage – it ought to be abolished’ and looking at me, added rudely, ‘And the Beerage too’. ‘You are lucky Margaret’, I said sweetly to Margaret Case. ‘You are seeing the Opening of Parliament, and I have introduced you to the most unpopular woman in England’. The horrid old girl winced and I saw her wizened bosom redden with rage. Our acrimonious exchange continued… and she said ‘I can fill a hall anyway’. So can George Robey’, I replied. I knew that I had the upper hand…
Something of an irony in someone posting on a Conservative political gossip site that they've never heard of Chips Channon....
ReplyDelete"Chips" Channon gave great diary (as they say) as did Harold Nicholson. They were both gay. Not that there's anything wrong with it. (Sienfeld C1985)
ReplyDeleteA very pleasant chap. He had to deal Lockabie, Kings Cross and Clapham Train crash all in his two years as Secretary of State for Transport.
ReplyDeleteWasn't he a bit of a wet?
ReplyDelete