Sir Nicholas Winterton

Sir Nicholas was born on 31st March, 1938. He was educated at Rugby School. He is married to Ann, from 1983 MP for Congleton, and they have two sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren.

Sir Nicholas undertook his National Service from 1957-59 and was commissioned into the 14/20 Kings Hussars (now Kings Royal Hussars) serving in Germany

He was employed as a trainee sales executive at Shell-Mex and BP Ltd from 1959 to 1960 and as a Sales and General Manager of a Construction Machinery Company from 1960-71.

He was a member of the West Midlands Conservative Council from 1967 to 1971 and was a Warwickshire County Councillor representing a coal mining and industrial division in North Warwickshire from 1967-72

Sir Nicholas is a keen all-round sportsman and was a playing member of the Sutton Coldfield Rugby Football Club and he played for the Combined Services XV in Berlin during his National Service

Nicholas was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, June 2002 and became an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Macclesfield in October 2002

Sir Nicholas working for Macclesfield

Sir Nicholas is an active President and supporter of many local charities including the Macclesfield Access Group, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Riding for the Disabled, Macclesfield Handicapped Social Club, Rossendale Trust. He is also a Vice President of the East Cheshire Hospice and a Patron of the East Cheshire Branch of the NSPCC, and in addition he is President/Vice President of numerous other constituency organisations, youth clubs, amateur dramatic societies and for 30 years he has been Patron of the Macclesfield & District Sheep Dog Trials Association.

He is also a Vice President of the Cheshire County Scout Association and the Macclesfield and Congleton District Scout Council. He has been appointed Ambassador for Guiding by The Guide Association and has been awarded the Medal of Merit for Outstanding Services to the Scout Movement.

He assists many local organisation such as Age Concern, Macmillan Cancer Care, and he is an honorary member of the Macclesfield & District Lions Club.

He is a regular supporter of the Macclesfield Rugby Union Football Club and the Macclesfield Town Football Club.

Nicholas' Experience

Nicholas first stood for election to Parliament in 1969 at a by-election in Newcastle-under-Lyme and again in the same constituency at the General Election in 1970. He was elected to Parliament after winning Macclesfield in a by-election in September 1971. Sir Nicholas has since been returned to Westminster on ten consecutive occasions, at the 2005 General Election securing almost 50 per cent of the vote.

He is currently the senior member of the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen, and one of the four members of the Panel who takes sittings in Westminster Hall on a regular basis with the honorary title of Assistant Deputy Speaker.

He is heavily involved in the House of Commons and chairs the Procedure Select Committee, having been first elected as Chairman in 1997. He also serves as the senior Conservative member of the Modernisation Select Committee and of the Liaison Committee.

His interest in overseas matters is shown by his membership of the Executive Committee and Finance & General Purposes Committee of the UK Branch Commonwealth Parliamentary Association of which he is currently Joint Treasurer with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and of the Executive Committee of the UK Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. He also chairs a number of All Party Groups including Austria, Denmark and the Falkland Islands and is the Joint Chairman of the British-Taiwan Group.

Nicholas was a member of the Social Services Select Committee from 1979-90 and then Chairman of the Health Select Committee from 1990-92. Nicholas' interest in health matters is highlighted by his position as an Honorary Vice-President of the Royal College of Midwives, which recognises his role as Chairman of the Health Select Committee when it produced a ground breaking report into maternity services.

His continuing and active interest in sport led to a position of Vice-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games Group and Nicholas was able to visit all the major sporting facilities for the Games in Manchester.

He is a Freeman of the City of London, a Liveryman and Member of Court of The Worshipful Company of Weavers and Upper Bailiff 1997-98, and for his many years of support for the St. John Ambulance he was installed as a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John.