Longstanding former Morecambe MP dies at age of 82

The Hon. Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd was described as “an outstanding Parliamentarian” in a tribute paid by former Visitor editor Mike Whalley.

Sir Mark, who was a Conservative MP from 1979 to 1997 for the Morecambe & Lonsdale and Morecambe & Lunesdale constituencies died at his home at Gresgarth Hall in Caton on Thursday July 24, surrounded by his family.

He served as a junior minister in the Foreign Office and as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister.

He was a junior Foreign Office minister under Lady Thatcher and Sir John Major, and prior to that a Government whip and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Mrs Thatcher until four months before her overthrow.

Sir Mark, who was knighted in 1994, was born in London in May 1943, educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford and called to the Bar at the Middle Temple, practising until 1977 when he went into farming.

He took the Morecambe & Lonsdale seat with a 15,815 majority over Labour in 1979 and, after boundary changes, comfortably held the constituency, renamed Morecambe & Lunesdale, in 1983, also retaining the seat in 1987 and 1992.

In July 1988, Lady Thatcher appointed him Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, and was kept on by her successor Sir John Major, staying at the Foreign Office until July 1995.

Sir Mark held Morecambe & Lunesdale with five-figure majorities through three elections, but in the Labour landslide of 1997, Geraldine Smith defeated him by 5,965 votes.

Away from Parliament, he took an increased role in the management of the network of Guinness family companies and was Prime Warden of the Fishmongers’ Company in 1998-99, later chairing its education and grants committee.

He was a patron of the British Sundial Society and in 2005 published a book called Sundials: History, Art, People, Science.

His wife, since 1974, was the Italian garden designer Arabella Lacloche, who went on to win the Gold Medal six times and Best in Show (1998) at the Chelsea Flower Show, as well as the RHS Veitch Memorial Medal. She was was awarded a CBE for services to horticulture and charity

Together they transformed the landscape around Gresgarth Hall, which they bought in 1978.

His wife survives him and he also leaves a daughter Patricia, stepdaughter Dominique and grandson Sebastian.

A private funeral is to be held at St Paul’s Church, Brookhouse, on Saturday August 9, at 2.30pm.

A service of thanksgiving will be announced later.