Search Results

2 March 2010 : Press Release

Big send off for Sir Michael Spicer

On Friday 26th February, 165 people gathered for a special dinner at the Abbey Hotel, Malvern, to say a big thank you to Sir Michael Spicer, as his 36 years representing the people of Worcestershire in Parliament draws to a close. There was a warm atmosphere from the guests, largely made up of members of the two Conservative Associations that Sir Michael has worked with, (South Worcestershire and then West Worcestershire, after the boundary changes of 1997), as they listened to the special guest, Sir Peter Tapsell reminded them of Sir Michael’s main achievements.

Sir Peter, the MP for Louth and Horncastle, retold the story of the Maastricht Treaty, when Sir Michael led the opposition to the treaty that was to pave the way for the common currency. The concessions wrought by Sir Michael’s rebellion arguably resulted in Britain staying out of the Euro and retaining its ability to run its own economy.

Sir Peter also recounted the time when the IRA blew up the Royal Hotel in Brighton, during the Conservative Party conference. Sir Michael, as Deputy Chairman of the Party, was responsible for seeing that, nevertheless, the conduct of the conference ran faultlessly as scheduled, despite the death and injury to so many, caused by the bomb.

Also adding her tribute was Harriett Baldwin, the Conservative candidate for Sir Michael’s seat. She valued the support he had given her since her selection in 2006 and looked forward to the chance to continue the service to the people of Worcestershire in his place.

The President of the Association, Roy Veal, presented Sir Michael with an engraved silver salver, as a gift from the Association, while Mary Weaver presented Lady Spicer with a jug of artificial peonies.

Photo: Roy Veal, President of the West Worcestershire Conservative Association, presents Sir Michael and Lady Spicer with a silver salver, marking his 36 years’ service to the people of Worcestershire, with Sir Peter Tapsell, MP, left, and Harriett Baldwin, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire, right.