Patsy Calton
Encyclopedia
Patsy Calton (born Patricia Yeldon) was a British
politician, and was a Liberal Democrat politician, and Member of Parliament
(MP) for the constituency of Cheadle in Greater Manchester
.
She was first elected at the 2001 general election
, with a 33 vote majority over the sitting Conservative
MP Stephen Day
. She held her seat in the 2005 general election
with a majority of 4,020 votes over Stephen Day, despite being too ill with cancer
to campaign personally. She died less than four weeks later, although she was sworn in as an MP five days before her death. She also stood at the 1992 general election
and the 1997 general election
. She had previously been a deputy leader of Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
.
Calton was born into a Royal Air Force
family and as a result moved around frequently as a child. She began her schooling in Egypt
while her father was posted there but most of her school days were spent at Wymondham College
in Norfolk
.
After her degree in biochemistry
at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST
), she took a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of Manchester.
Either side of a career break while bringing up her family, she taught Chemistry in comprehensive schools in Greater Manchester
and Cheshire
. In June 2001 she left teaching for Parliament
, her last school being Poynton High School
, where she was head of Chemistry and head of Legh House.
In Parliament, she was a Liberal Democrat spokeswoman on Northern Ireland
and on health, and was also chair of the all-party group on breast cancer
.
She was married to her husband Clive in 1969. They had three children, Libby, Andrew and Catherine and one grandchild. The family lived in Bramhall
for most of their married life and all the children were educated at local schools — Pownall Green Primary and Bramhall High School
— and then at Stockport
's sixth form college
s.
Calton was first diagnosed with breast cancer following the 1997 election campaign. She recovered after she had undergone a double mastectomy
the same year. She ran the London Marathon
four times to raise money for Macmillan Nurses
. In February 2005 the cancer recurred, this time in the spine
. She died on 29 May 2005.
A few days before her death, she entered the House of Commons in a wheelchair to affirm her allegiance. Speaker Michael Martin
broke with tradition, leaving the Speaker's Chair to shake Calton's hand, said "welcome home Patsy," and kissed her cheek.
After her death, Breakthrough Breast Cancer
established the Breakthrough Patsy Calton Award in her honour to recognise exceptional achievement by parliamentarians in campaigning for improvements in breast cancer research, services and/or the patient experience.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician, and was a Liberal Democrat politician, and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for the constituency of Cheadle in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
.
She was first elected at the 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
, with a 33 vote majority over the sitting Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP Stephen Day
Stephen Day (MP)
Stephen Richard Day is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom, and a former Member of Parliament .He was the Conservative candidate for Bradford West at the 1983 general election, before being elected as MP for Cheadle from 1987 to 2001, when he lost his seat by 33 votes, the...
. She held her seat in the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
with a majority of 4,020 votes over Stephen Day, despite being too ill with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
to campaign personally. She died less than four weeks later, although she was sworn in as an MP five days before her death. She also stood at the 1992 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
and the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
. She had previously been a deputy leader of Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council is the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. The council is currently in no overall control since the 2011 local elections when the Liberal Democrats lost their majority. The Liberal Democrats now have 31...
.
Calton was born into a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
family and as a result moved around frequently as a child. She began her schooling in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
while her father was posted there but most of her school days were spent at Wymondham College
Wymondham College
Wymondham College is a state boarding school, located in Norfolk, England, which was the largest in Europe when it opened in 1951.-Admissions:...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
After her degree in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST
UMIST
The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology was a university based in the centre of the city of Manchester in England. It specialised in technical and scientific subjects and was a major centre for research...
), she took a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of Manchester.
Either side of a career break while bringing up her family, she taught Chemistry in comprehensive schools in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
and Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. In June 2001 she left teaching for Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, her last school being Poynton High School
Poynton High School
Poynton High School and Performing Arts College is a secondary school in Poynton near Stockport, England. It is a mixed non denominational school though its roll is 96% white British and predominantly Anglican....
, where she was head of Chemistry and head of Legh House.
In Parliament, she was a Liberal Democrat spokeswoman on Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and on health, and was also chair of the all-party group on breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
.
She was married to her husband Clive in 1969. They had three children, Libby, Andrew and Catherine and one grandchild. The family lived in Bramhall
Bramhall
Bramhall is a suburb of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England. It has a population of about 25,500.Research by the University of Sheffield has placed Bramhall as the "least lonely" place in Britain. Bramhall is also regarded as an affluent area where most residents...
for most of their married life and all the children were educated at local schools — Pownall Green Primary and Bramhall High School
Bramhall High School
Bramhall High School is a comprehensive high school in Bramhall, Stockport, England.-Admissions:The school is a Science College and a Reed College of Enterprise. It is also a teacher training school in connection with Manchester Metropolitan University...
— and then at Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
's sixth form college
Sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belize, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 18 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In Singapore and India, this is...
s.
Calton was first diagnosed with breast cancer following the 1997 election campaign. She recovered after she had undergone a double mastectomy
Mastectomy
Mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. Mastectomy is usually done to treat breast cancer; in some cases, women and some men believed to be at high risk of breast cancer have the operation prophylactically, that is, to prevent cancer...
the same year. She ran the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
four times to raise money for Macmillan Nurses
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer....
. In February 2005 the cancer recurred, this time in the spine
Vertebral column
In human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column usually consisting of 24 articulating vertebrae, and 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx. It is situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by intervertebral discs...
. She died on 29 May 2005.
A few days before her death, she entered the House of Commons in a wheelchair to affirm her allegiance. Speaker Michael Martin
Michael Martin (politician)
Michael John Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn, PC is a British politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Glasgow Springburn from 1979 to 2005, and then for Glasgow North East until 2009...
broke with tradition, leaving the Speaker's Chair to shake Calton's hand, said "welcome home Patsy," and kissed her cheek.
After her death, Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Breakthrough Breast Cancer is a United Kingdom charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research, campaigning and education. Its vision is "to work for a future free from the fear of breast cancer".-History:...
established the Breakthrough Patsy Calton Award in her honour to recognise exceptional achievement by parliamentarians in campaigning for improvements in breast cancer research, services and/or the patient experience.
External links
- ePolitix.com - Patsy Calton MP
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Mrs Patsy Calton MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Patsy Calton MP
- The Public Whip - Patsy Calton MP voting record
- BBC News - Patsy Calton profile 10 February 2005
- BBC News Guardian Unlimited Manchester Evening News Telegraph Libdems.org coverage of her death
- Guardian Unlimited Obituary: "Courageous Lib Dem MP known for her health campaigns"
- Independent Obituary: "Energetic Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle"