LORD GEOFFREY HOWE
Former Conservative Chancellor, Lord Geoffrey Howe died of a heart attack on Friday aged 88, at his home in Warwickshire. He had attended a jazz concert near his home, with his wife of 62 years Lady Elspeth, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall's aunt.
Born in Port Talbot, South Wales, educated at Winchester College, he did National Service as a Lieutenant with the Royal Corps of Signals in East Africa, but turned down the opportunity to remain in the army. He went instead to Trinity Hall Cambridge where he read law. In 1952 he was called to the Bar and in 1965 became a QC.
Geoffrey Howe entered Parliament in 1964 as member for the marginal constituency of Bebington, but losing this seat following boundary changes, he won the safe Conservative seat of Reigate in 1970. He served in Lady Thatcher's government as Chancellor 1979 - 1983, and as Foreign Secretary 1983-1989, resigning in 1990. His resignation speech is widely viewed as a key factor in Lady Thatcher’s downfall, leading to her replacement by Sir John Major as leader of the Conservative Party.
The mild mannered but steely former Chancellor was credited with turning the country's fortunes around. He was admired by David Cameron as kind, gentle and deeply thoughtful, and respected by George Osborne as the Chancellor whose Budgets rescued Britain.
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