Bruce Bernard Weatherill KStJ PC DL (1920 - 2007)

Born 25 Nov 1920 in Chertsey, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 6 May 2007 at age 86 in Caterham, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Biography

Bernard Weatherill KStJ PC DL is one of twins.

Bernard was born in 1920. He was the son of tailor Bernard Bruce Weatherill and Annie Gertrude Creak. Bruce's birth was registered in the Oct-Nov-Dec quarter of 1920 in the Chertsey district. They were the child of Creak.^[1] He had a twin sister, Margery.

His father was a Savile Row tailor and the family firm was quite prestigious. Bernard initially apprenticed as a tailor before taking increasingly senior management roles. The firm was sold in 2003 but the brand remains popular.

He was a member of three City of London Livery Companies: the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors, the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, and the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers. He became a Freeman of the City of London in 1949.

He served with the British Army during World War II, enlisting as a private before being commissioned as an officer, attached to the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards and later the 19th King George V's Own Lancers, Indian Army in Burma. He was discharged in 1946 at the rank of Captain.

Bernard married Daphne I L "Lyn" Eatwell in Q3 1949 in London, England.^[2] They had three children.

He was elected Member of Parliament (MP) on 15 October 1964 for Croydon North East as a Conservative. He served for many years as a whip, rising to Deputy Chief Whip, responsible for enforcing party discipline (and making sure members voted the way they were supposed to).

He became a member of the Privy Council on 8 January 1980.

In 1983 he became Speaker of the House of Commons. This meant he became a neutral figure and no longer represented the Conservative Party, although by tradition he was not opposed in constituency re-elections. When he stood down both as Speaker and from Parliament, he was made a life peer, Baron Weatherill of North East Croydon entitling him to sit in the House of Lords. After leaving the Commons he returned to running the family business.

Bernard died on 6 May 2007 in Oxted, Surrey, England and was cremated.^[3]

Find A Grave: Memorial #250081594

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008"
   citing Birth Registration, Chertsey, Surrey, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England
   FamilySearch Record: 2NM5-T26 (accessed 19 February 2024)
   Bruce B Weatherill birth registered Oct-Nov-Dec 1920 in Chertsey, child of Creak.
2. ↑ Marriage Registration: "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005"
   citing UK General Register Office. Page: 855
   FamilySearch Record: QVDH-RYN2 (accessed 19 February 2024)
   Bruce B Weatherill marriage to Daphne I L Eatwell registered from Jul 1949 to Sep 1949 in London, England, United Kingdom.
3. ↑ Death: "England Death Records, 1998-2015"
   FamilySearch Record: CBP6-TJT2 (accessed 19 February 2024)
   Bruce Bernard Weatherill death 6 May 2007 in Oxted, Surrey, England, United Kingdom.

• Wikidata: Item Q822768, en:Wikipedia