MP backed miners against pit closures
Newark’s former Conservative MP Mr Richard Thain Alexander died on Sunday, four years after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 73.
Mr Alexander died in Beaumond House Community Hospice, Newark. A funeral service will be held in Newark Parish Church on Tuesday at 2pm followed by burial in Newark Cemetery at his request.
Despite his illness Mr Alexander continued with his duties as a town and district councillor.
Mr Alexander of The Friary, Newark, was elected MP in 1979 when he narrowly beat Mr Ted Bishop, who had held the seat for Labour for 15 years.
He continued to hold it until he was defeated in the Labour landslide General Election of 1997 by Mrs Fiona Jones.
He was thrust back into the national political limelight briefly when Mrs Jones was convicted of false election expense returns and it seemed a by-election would be called.
Mr Alexander was keen to be considered as a candidate but the conviction was overturned at appeal and so the by-election was not needed.
Instead he returned to local politics and was elected to Newark and Sherwood District Council for the Magnus Ward.
He served as the chairman in 2005-06 and was the cabinet member for culture and leisure services at the time of his death.
He was also elected to Newark Town Council in May’s elections.
Mr Alexander was born in Aberdeen and was educated at Eastbourne Grammar School and Dewsbury Grammar School in Yorkshire. He studied law at University College London and at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in London.
He was appointed principal and senior partner in the firm of Jones, Alexander and Co in Retford in 1964 where he continued to work until 1985 when he retired from the firm but acted as consultant until 1990.
Mr Alexander joined the Young Conservatives in 1957, served on their National Advisory Committee in 1961 and fought his first election for Scunthorpe Town Council in 1962.
He was the parliamentary candidate for Lincoln in 1966 and again four years later, but was unsuccessful. He was adopted as Newark’s prospective Conservative Parliamentary candidate in April, 1976.
He also served on Nottinghamshire County Council, Bassetlaw District Council, Retford Borough Council and was the Mayor of Retford in 1977-8.
Mr Alexander was never made a minister but in 1987 The Guardian named him as one of the hardest-working members in the Commons.
One of the main challenges during his Parliamentary career was the miners’ strike. He became known as Newark’s Conservative pit rebel MP and was the only Tory to vote against the Government’s pit closure programme on all six occasions.
He served as a member of a select committee on agriculture, environment and statutory instruments, was a Parliamentary representative on the Council of Europe and Western European Union, founded the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Exports, was chairman of the Rights of Way Review Committee and chairman of the Conservative Middle East Council.
He and his first wife, Valerie separated in 1979 after 13 years’ marriage and later divorced. Mr Alexander married Mrs Pat Hanson, a divorcee, in the spring of 1987.
He was involved in many local organisations. He was a former president of Newark Rotary Club, a member of Newark Town Club and a freemason.
Newark’s current MP, Mr Patrick Mercer, said Mr Alexander had been an extremely hard act to follow but had been especially supportive during the 2001 election when Mr Mercer reclaimed the seat for the Conservatives from Mrs Jones.
Said Mr Mercer: “One of the best bits of advice was to put my constituents’ needs first and follow my instincts otherwise I would be letting down those people I represented.”
The MP for Sherwood, Mr Paddy Tipping, said although Mr Alexander has been of a different political persuasion he had always been very kind and helpful to him when he joined him in parliament in 1982.
“We did work closely together and he was one of the few Conservative MPs to stand up for the miners when they needed fresh hope,” he said.
The leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Mr Tony Roberts, said he admired Mr Alexander’s wisdom and unflappability, which he gained over his many years of public service.
“He was a very solid and reliable MP and helped a lot of people,” he said.
“Richard would always give his opinion, but not force it upon you and you could rely on him totally.”
He said Mr Alexander must have been disappointed when he lost his seat as an MP and could have easily walked away and enjoyed his retirement.
Instead he came back and worked in the area that he represented over the years.
He said that when Mr Alexander was appointed a cabinet member his first reaction was that he was delighted to do it.
The leader of Newark Town Council, Mr Max Cope, paid tribute to Mr Alexander and said a light had gone out of the political life in the town with his death.
“He was a gentleman who gave a lifetime of public service to Newark and Retford,” he said. “He was a man of fairness to all regardless of political beliefs and a loving family man.”
He said Mr Alexander was highly respected and would be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He leaves his widow, children Mr Nicholas Alexander and Mrs Emma Henselien who lives in Brisbane, Australia; grandchildren William (4) and Georgina (2) Alexander, Jacob Henselien (six months); brother Mr Hamish Alexander and sister Miss Wendy Alexander.
