August 18th, 2007
I pause amidst the packing to pay a brief tribute to Lord Deedes, who died yesterday. There is little I can add to the tributes being paid to him, save to say that I think that his death leaves Lord Carrington as the last surviving member of the MacMillan Cabinet. Bill Deedes came in after the Night of Long Knives in 1962, replacing amongst others Charles Hill, aka “The Radio Doctor”. His political career was lengthy: twenty-four years as Member for Ashford, but looking back it was eclipsed by his extraordinarily long career in journalism. I have been reading his collected articles, which span over seventy years! I met him briefly at a Party Conference some years ago. What struck me about him was his continuing interest in current and future affairs. Not for him the comfort of nostalgia. My impression was that he preferred to look forward, even at an advanced age. I have no doubt that this outlook ensured a long life.
Memo to self: don’t be too atavistic. “What’s next?” is the question to be asked.
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August 18th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Robert - a timely bad sad post. Was intrigued by your reference to the last surviving member(s) of the Macmillan Cabinet so did a bit of digging. I think Lord Carrington was only actually a Cabinet Minister under Douglas Home, so that means the last member of the Macmillan Cabinet is now no longer with us.
There are only a handful from the Heath government too by now, and I think the Wilson/Callaghan era is down to single figures now too (quite literally).
September 3rd, 2007 at 9:02 am
I think that Carrington was in the Macmillan Cambinet as First Lord of The Admiralty, so I may be right. Will keep digging.