Rt Hon Michael James Hugh Alison, PC (1926-2004)

[Michael Rhodes]

The Right Honourable Michael Alison, former Conservative MP for
Barkston Ash, and later for Selby, and a Parliamentary Private
Secretary to the Prime Minister (Mrs Margaret Thatcher), died 28 May,
2004. He was aged 77.

Michael James Hugh Alison was born 27 June, 1926, the son of J.S.I.
Alsion, of London and Sydney, Australia, and was educated at Eton
College, Wadham College, Oxford, and Ridley Hall, Cambridge.

Career: served in the Coldstream Guards, 1944-48 as a Lieutenant; a
clerk with Lazard Brothers (merchant bankers) 1951-53; member of
Kensington Council, 1956-59; research officer London Municipal Society
1954-58; Conservative Research Department, 1958-64; Conservative MP
for Barkston Ash, Yorkshire 1964-1983; Conservative MP for Selby,
1983-97; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Health
& Social Security, 1970-74; Minister of State, Northern Ireland
Office, 1979-81; Minister of State, Department of Employment, 1981-83;
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, 1983-87; Second
Church Estate Commissioner, 1987-97.

Michael Alison married in 1958, Sylvia Mary Haigh, by whom he had two
sons and one daughters. The daughter, Mary Rose (Rosie), is the wife
of Timothy Waterstone, founder of Waterstone's Booksellers.

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