British peer and UK Independence Party politician
Thomas Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh , KBE , PC (born 28 October 1950) is a British peer and UK Independence Party politician.
Insignia of Baronet
Hesketh succeeded in the barony (and baronetcy ) on 6 October 1955, aged four, when his father, Frederick Fermor-Hesketh, 2nd Baron Hesketh , died aged 39. His mother, Christian Mary McEwen , Dowager Lady Hesketh, served as the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1981.[ 1]
He was educated at Ampleforth College , Yorkshire.[ 2] He went on to work for Dean Witter in San Francisco before returning to manage his family's businesses.[ 3]
Hesketh automatically became a member of the House of Lords but took no active part in politics until he met Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher after the Irish Republican Army 's bomb attack on her in Brighton on 12 October 1984. Thatcher visited Easton Neston and in conversation, Hesketh explained that he did not occupy his seat in the House of Lords . He later explained, "Mrs Thatcher asked me if I served on a regular basis in the House, and when I told her no, she said, 'You must. It's your duty, and I expect you to be there.'"[ 1] From that point Hesketh worked under Thatcher, whom he described as "the most outstanding person I ever worked with"[ 4] and held the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment between 1989 and 1990 and was Minister of State in the Department of Trade and Industry between 1990 and 1991.
On 22 May of that year, he became Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords ) under the next prime minister, John Major , a position he kept until 16 September 1993.[ 2] During his period in office as Chief Whip he helped secure the Local Government Finance Act 1992 , which introduced council taxes , and the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993,[ 5] which ratified the Maastricht Treaty .
Hesketh lost his seat in the House of Lords in 1999, when the House of Lords Act 1999 removed all but 92 hereditary peers, and he was not one of the 92 who were elected to keep their seats.
In 2003, he became treasurer of the Conservative Party, resigning in 2006 owing to his own financial difficulties, and was formerly a board member of The Conservative Party Foundation.[ 3]
On 10 October 2011, Hesketh defected to the UK Independence Party , in response to Prime Minister David Cameron ruling out a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union .[ 6] During the years 2011/12 Hesketh donated approximately £31,000 to that party.[ 7]
Known for his love of motor racing , Hesketh founded Hesketh Racing in 1972, best known for competing in Formula One from 1973 to 1978. The team was famous for its flamboyant and patriotic approach to the sport and for refusing sponsorship . Between 1973 and 1975 the team had some success with the English driver James Hunt , including winning the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix . He later was president of the British Racing Drivers' Club , from 1993 to 2000.
Hesketh formed Hesketh Motorcycles plc . In 1982 a modern purpose built factory was set up to manufacture the Hesketh V1000 motorcycles in Daventry . However, there were numerous problems. The bikes were heavy, made worse by a high riding style; and unreliable, with numerous manufacturing problems adding to an overheating rear cylinder due to lack of air flow. The resultant bad press combined on top of an under-developed bike, lack of cash and a collapsing market meant that after the production of 139 bikes, the company went into receivership. The Triumph Motorcycles co-operative looked at buying the rights to the machine, as they lacked a new model beyond the aged Triumph Bonneville . A V1000 machine even appeared with a Triumph badge on its tank, but Triumph also lacked funding to buy and develop the machine. In 1983, Lord Hesketh formed a new company called Hesleydon Ltd to manufacture a revamped V1000 with a full fairing, called the Vampire. However, although the company had produced a motorcycle with export potential in mind, the Vampire retained too many of the V1000's faults and only 40 were produced before the company closed again in 1984.
In 1994 Hesketh helped set up British Mediterranean Airways (BMED). He also became chairman of the new airline – a role in which he continued until early 2007, when BMED was purchased for £30 million by UK Airline BMI . He subsequently served as an "independent director" of Air Astana , the national carrier of Kazakhstan .[ 8]
Hesketh joined the board of Babcock International Group on 6 October 1993, becoming non-executive deputy chairman on 26 April 1996. He was forced to resign in November 2010 after a comment regarding the Royal Navy 's new Queen Elizabeth -class aircraft carriers to The Daily Telegraph newspaper, in which he was reported as saying the project would make the country a "laughing stock".[ 9]
The family seat, Easton Neston , which Lord Hesketh sold in 2006.
On 21 May 1977, Lord Hesketh married Hon. Claire Georgina Watson, a daughter of Rupert Watson, 3rd Baron Manton and the former Mary Elizabeth Hallinan. Together, they are the parents of three children who use the surname Hesketh day-to-day:[ 2]
Hon. Flora Mary Fermor-Hesketh (born 1981)
Hon. Sophia Christian Fermor-Hesketh (born 1984)[ 10]
Hon. Frederick Hatton Fermor-Hesketh (born 13 October 1988)
In 2006, Lord Hesketh's financial difficulties forced him to sell the family seat, Easton Neston , at Towcester , Northamptonshire—the only surviving completed house by the English baroque architect Nicholas Hawksmoor —and all furnishings of the house, including even the family portraits.[ 11] [ 12] He sold off the estate and Gothic village of Hulcote piecemeal.[ 13]
In 1997, Hesketh was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).[citation needed ] Hesketh was portrayed by British actor Christian McKay in the 2013 biographical drama Rush .
Coat of arms of Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh
Crest
1st A garb Or banded Azure (Hesketh); 2nd Out of a ducal coronet Or a cock’s head Gules combed and wattled Gold.
Escutcheon
Quarterly 1st & 4th Argent on a bend Sable three garbs Or (Hesketh); 2nd & 3rd Argent a fess Sable between three lions’ heads erased Gules (Fermor).
Supporters
On either side a griffin Or gorged with a collar Gules thereon a fleur-de-lis Gold and charged on the shoulder with a rose also Gules barbed and seeded Proper.
Motto
Hora E Sempre [ 14]
Ancestors of Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh 16. Sir Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 5th Baronet 8. Sir Thomas George Fermor-Hesketh, 7th Baronet 17. Lady Anna Maria Isabella Fermor (daughter of the 4th Earl of Pomfret ) 4. Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 1st Baron Hesketh 18. William Sharon , U.S. Senator from Nevada 9. Florence Emily Sharon 19. Maria Malloy 2. Frederick Fermor-Hesketh, 2nd Baron Hesketh 20. John C. Breckinridge , 14th Vice President of the United States 10. John Witherspoon Breckinridge 21. Mary Cyrene Burch 5. Florence Louise Breckinridge 22. Lloyd Tevis 11. Louise Tevis 23. Susan Sanders 1. Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh 12. Robert Finnie McEwen, of Marchmont and Bardrochat 6. Sir John McEwen, 1st Baronet 26. R. H. D. Dundas 13. Mary Frances Dundas 3. Christian Mary McEwen 28. Nathaniel Lindley, Baron Lindley 14. Sir Francis Oswald Lindley 29. Sarah Katharine Teale 7. Brigid Mary Lindley 30. Simon Fraser, 13th Lord Lovat 15. Etheldreda Mary Fraser 31. Alice Mary Weld-Blundell
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Hugh Crossley, 4th Baron Somerleyton
Adam Nicolson, 5th Baron Carnock
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Thomas Cochrane, 5th Baron Cochrane of Cults
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Thomas Shaw, 4th Baron Craigmyle
Michael Wills, 3rd Baron Dulverton
Ian Lawson Johnston, 4th Baron Luke
Robert Yerburgh, 3rd Baron Alvingham
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Frederick Ponsonby, 4th Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede
Martin Dickinson, 3rd Baron Dickinson
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Anthony Cecil, 4th Baron Rockley
Edward Elton, 3rd Baron Elton
Timothy Loder, 4th Baron Wakehurst
Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh
John Buchan, 4th Baron Tweedsmuir
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King Edward VIII King George VI
James Hennessy, 4th Baron Windlesham
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Michael Warrender, 3rd Baron Bruntisfield
Ivon Moore-Brabazon, 3rd Baron Brabazon of Tara
Charles Keyes, 3rd Baron Keyes
Christopher Herbert, 4th Baron Hemingford
James Wilson, 3rd Baron Moran
Victor Lampson, 3rd Baron Killearn
Piers Dowding, 3rd Baron Dowding
John Gretton, 4th Baron Gretton
William Westwood, 4th Baron Westwood
Arthur Hazlerigg, 4th Baron Hazlerigg
David Hacking, 3rd Baron Hacking
Philip Chetwode, 2nd Baron Chetwode
James Edmondson, 3rd Baron Sandford
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Richard Broadbridge, 5th Baron Broadbridge
Jeffrey Evans, 4th Baron Mountevans
James Lindsay, 3rd Baron Lindsay of Birker
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Charles Muff, 3rd Baron Calverley
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Paul Davies, 4th Baron Darwen
Simon Lucas, 3rd Baron Lucas of Chilworth
Graeme Shepherd, 3rd Baron Shepherd
Francis Newall, 2nd Baron Newall
Patrick Lawrence, 3rd Baron Oaksey
Robert Maffey, 3rd Baron Rugby
Jonathan Layton, 4th Baron Layton
Matilda Simon, 3rd Baroness Simon of Wythenshawe
Edward Kershaw, 4th Baron Kershaw
David Trefgarne, 2nd Baron Trefgarne
Robert Crook, 3rd Baron Crook
Keith Montague, 3rd Baron Amwell
Michael Richards, 3rd Baron Milverton
David Colville, 3rd Baron Clydesmuir
Fraser Burden, 4th Baron Burden
Christopher Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest
Christopher Silkin, 3rd Baron Silkin (disclaimed )
Matthew Hives, 3rd Baron Hives
Malcolm Greenhill, 3rd Baron Greenhill
Tudor Rees-Williams, 4th Baron Ogmore
Jonathan Morris, 3rd Baron Morris of Kenwood
James Macpherson, 3rd Baron Macpherson of Drumochter
Michael Whitfield, 3rd Baron Kenswood
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Richard Milner, 3rd Baron Milner of Leeds
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Christopher Wise, 3rd Baron Wise
Queen Elizabeth II
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James Law, 3rd Baron Coleraine
Charles Harvey, 3rd Baron Harvey of Tasburgh
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William Fraser, 3rd Baron Strathalmond
Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde
Ralph Assheton, 2nd Baron Clitheroe
Duncan McNair, 3rd Baron McNair
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John Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever
John Sinclair, 3rd Baron Sinclair of Cleeve
Mark Bridges, 3rd Baron Bridges
George Norrie, 2nd Baron Norrie
Thomas Birkett, 3rd Baron Birkett
William Harding, 3rd Baron Harding of Petherton
David Charles Poole, 2nd Baron Poole
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James Turner, 3rd Baron Netherthorpe
James Dugdale, 2nd Baron Crathorne
Patrick Spens, 4th Baron Spens
Oliver MacAndrew, 4th Baron MacAndrew
Alistair Nelson, 4th Baron Nelson of Stafford
Charles Baring, 2nd Baron Howick of Glendale
Alan Sanderson, 2nd Baron Sanderson of Ayot (disclaimed )
Henry Lytton Cobbold, 3rd Baron Cobbold
William Robertson, 3rd Baron Robertson of Oakridge
Simon Marks, 3rd Baron Marks of Broughton
Ailwyn Broughton, 3rd Baron Fairhaven
Robert Seager, 3rd Baron Leighton of St Mellons
Michael Brain, 3rd Baron Brain
Charles Low, 2nd Baron Aldington
James Millar, 3rd Baron Inchyra
Simon Trustram Eve, 3rd Baron Silsoe
Max Wyndham, 2nd Baron Egremont
David Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet
John Robinson, 2nd Baron Martonmere
Dwight Makins, 3rd Baron Sherfield
Richard Fletcher-Vane, 2nd Baron Inglewood
Jonathan Hope, 3rd Baron Glendevon
Robert Grimston, 3rd Baron Grimston of Westbury
Robert Renwick, 3rd Baron Renwick
Richard Hughes-Young, 2nd Baron St Helens
Alastair Morrison, 3rd Baron Margadale