Nigel Jones, Baron Jones of Cheltenham

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For other people named Nigel Jones, see Nigel Jones (disambiguation).

The Right Honourable
The Lord Jones of Cheltenham
Member of Parliament
for Cheltenham
In office
10 April 1992 – 11 April 2005
Preceded byCharles Irving
Succeeded byMartin Horwood
Personal details
Born
Nigel David Jones

(1948-03-30) 30 March 1948 (age 76)
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Political partyLiberal Democrats
SpouseKatherine Grinnell

Nigel David Jones, Baron Jones of Cheltenham (born 30 March 1948 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire[1]) is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom.

Early life

Nigel Jones attended Prince Henry's Grammar School on Victoria Avenue in Evesham.[2]

After leaving school, Jones worked as a computer operator for Westminster Bank from 1965 to 1967, and then as a computer programmer at International Computers Limited (ICL) from 1967 to 1970. From 1970 to 1971, he worked as a systems analyst at Vehicle and General Insurance and as a systems programmer at Atkins Computing, before rejoined ICL as a project manager in 1971.[2]

From 1989, Jones was a councillor at Gloucestershire County Council. He resigned from both ICL and Gloucestershire County Council in 1992, when he was elected to Parliament.

Parliamentary career

Jones was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cheltenham in the 1992 general election, winning the seat from the Conservative Party. He had previously contested the seat unsuccessfully at the 1979 general election.[2]

Jones was a member of the public accounts committee from 2002 to 2005. He was also the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for a number of topics, including local government (1992 to 1993), sport science and technology (1993), consumer affairs (1995 to 1997), sport and culture (1997 to 1999), trade and industry (1997 to 1999) and international development (1999).[2]

Jones retained the seat until standing down at the 2005 general election.[2]

Attack

On 28 January 2000, Robert Ashman entered Jones's constituency office and attacked him and his assistant, local councillor Andrew Pennington, with a katana, a Samurai sword. As a result of the attack, Pennington was killed and Jones was severely injured.[3] Jones required 57 stitches to close wounds to his hand from the assault.[4]

Jones had written a character reference for Ashman when Ashman was nearly jailed after breaking the ribs of a tax collector in 1992.[3] After the attack at Jones's office, Ashman was charged with manslaughter and attempted murder, but the jury at his trial found him to be mentally unfit to stand trial.[5] Subsequently detained in Broadmoor for observation, the Home Office authorised a further trial in September 2002. Ashman was subsequently found guilty of attempted murder and admitted to Pennington's manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility in 2003.[6]

Pennington was posthumously awarded the George Medal for his attempts to protect Jones.[7]

Peerage

On 13 May 2005, it was announced that Jones would be created a life peer, and he was subsequently elevated to the peerage on 20 June 2005 as Baron Jones of Cheltenham, of Cheltenham in the County of Gloucestershire.[8] As well as many outside interests, he acts as a non-executive consultant for Barlow Frith Communications, a Buckinghamshire-based public relations consultancy.

Personal life

Jones married Katherine Grinnell in 1981. They have a son, Sam, and twin daughters, Amy and Lucy.

Arms

Coat of arms of Nigel Jones, Baron Jones of Cheltenham
Adopted
2006
Coronet
Coronet of a Baron
Crest
A demi Black Rhinoceros Vert armed and supporting with the feet a Welsh Triple Harp Or
Escutcheon
Per pale Gules and Vert three Mice sejant Argent supporting with the forefeet an Abacus Or
Supporters
On either side a Hippopotamus statant erect and with mouth agape that on the dexter Vert and that on the sinister Gules both tusked and gorged with an Ancient Crown attached thereto a Chain reflexed over the back Or
Motto
STRENGTH THROUGH KNOWLEDGE
Badge
The Head of a Hippopotamus caboshed per pale Vert and Gules crowned with an Ancient Coronet Or
Symbolism
The mouse and abacus represent a computer. Hippos and rhino were a personal preference and the Welsh harp represents both Wales and the grantee's love of music.

References

  1. ^ GRO Register of Births: JUN 1948 7b 482 CHELTENHAM – Nigel D. Jones, mmn = Hughes
  2. ^ a b c d e "Nigel Jones". Ask Aristotle. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Ashman: Family Man turned Killer". BBC News. 21 February 2001. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  4. ^ Christopher Hope, Former MP attacked with sword fears for his safety after assailant tries to move in nearby, Telegraph (March 19, 2009).
  5. ^ "Sword man sent to secure hospital". BBC News. 21 February 2001. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  6. ^ "MP's sword attacker guilty". BBC News. 3 April 2003. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Medal for man who died saving MP". BBC News. 30 October 2001. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  8. ^ "No. 56374". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 October 2001. p. 12751.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Cheltenham
1992–2005 		Succeeded by
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