James Gray

Conservative Member of Parliament for North Wiltshire.

• Personal:

Born 7th November, 1954. (Second son of late Very Revd. Dr. John R. Gray, Minister at Dunblane Cathedral and Moderator 1977 and Dr. Sheila Gray).

My wife, Sarah and I have three children: John (b. 1984), Olivia (b. 1986) and William (b. 1991).

• Education:

1966-71: The High School of Glasgow.

1971-75: Glasgow University (M.A. Hons.) - Millennium Patron.

1975-77: Christ Church, Oxford.

• Parliamentary Career:

Shadow Minister for the Countryside (2002-)

Shadow Defence Minister (2001-2002)

Member of the Opposition Whips' Office (2000-2001)

Chairman, Conservative Rural Action Group (2002-2004)

Chairman, All Party Parliamentary Group for MS (2003-)

Vice-Chairman, All Party Parliament Group on Deafness (2004-)

Founder Member, Parliament's Group on Historic Churches (2004)

Co-Chairman, All Party Minerals Group (1997-2001)

Member, DETR Select Committee (1997-2000)

Vice President, Conservatives Against a Federal Europe (1997-2001)

Chairman, Horse & Pony Taxation Committee (1999-2002)

Consultant to The British Horse Industry Confederation (1999-2002)

Hon Sec, All Party Parliamentary Family Farms Group (1999-2000)

• Previous Political Career:

May 1997 Elected to Parliament

1994-1996 Deputy Chairman, Wandsworth Tooting Conservative Association

1993-1995 Special Adviser to John Gummer, Secretary of State, DoE

1992-1993 Special Adviser to Michael Howard, Secretary of State, DoE

1992 Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Ross Cromarty & Skye

• Commercial Career:

1995-1997 Director, Westminster Strategy (Public Affairs Consultants)

1989-1992 Senior Manager, GNI Ltd. (Futures Brokers)

1989-1991 Director, Baltic Futures Exchange

1985-1992 Managing Director, GNI Freight Futures Ltd.

1978-1984 Shipbroker and Department Manager, Anderson Hughes Ltd.

1977-1978 Graduate Management Trainee, P&O

1978-1991 Member, The Baltic Exchange

and 1997 - Pro bono Member, the Baltic Exchange

• Publications:

Financial Risk Management (1985);

Futures and Options for Shipping (1987 - Winner of Lloyds of London Book Prize);

Shipping Futures (1990);

"Crown vs Parliament: Who decides on Going to War" (Seaford House Papers - Prize Winner 2003)

• Military Service:

Active service in the Honourable Artillery Company, 1977 -1984

Vice-President of the HAC Saddle Club
Member of the Court of Assistants, HAC 2002-

Member, Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme 1997,

Postgraduate 2000

Member, Royal College of Defence Studies, 2003

• Clubs:

Member, Honourable Artillery Company

President, Chippenham Constitutional Club

Member, Wootton Bassett Conservative Club

Freeman, City of London

Member, Avon Vale Foxhounds

Member, Biddestone & Slaughterford Branch, Royal British Legion

Honorary Member, Rotary Club of the Wiltshire Vale

Member, Union of Country Sports workers

Honorary Associate, British Veterinary Association

• Public Service:

President, Chippenham Branch of the MS Society

Patron, Mid Wiltshire Dyslexia Association

Adviser, Royal Geographical Society Social & Environmental Forum

Patron, Woodshaw Residents Association, Wootton Bassett

Formerly Governor, Chestnut Grove Comprehensive School, Balham

President, North Wiltshire Business Association

President, Association of British Riding Schools

Vice Chairman, Charities' Property Association

• Other Interests:

The countryside and riding horses; British heritage and local history; The Army; China.