Monthly Archives: October 2025

Sir David Amess

Memories, Opinion, , ,
Sir David had a French Bulldog; not this one!

I used to see Sir David at business breakfast club meetings. He was a great supporter of local businesses in the Southend area. I wish I had got to know him rather than just seeing him now and again. We all miss him with affection.

Sir David Amess (26 March 1952 – 15 October 2021) was a long-serving British Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), best remembered for his deep commitment to his constituents, his compassion for animals, and his tireless work for numerous charitable causes. His life combined traditional Tory principles with a strong social conscience, underpinned by his Roman Catholic faith and lifelong love of animals.

Early Life and Education

  • Born: 26 March 1952, Plaistow, Essex (now part of London).
  • Family: Son of James and Maud Amess; raised in a working-class family.
  • Education:
    • Attended St Bonaventure’s Grammar School, Forest Gate.
    • Studied Economics and Government at Bournemouth College of Technology (now Bournemouth University).
  • Before entering politics, he worked as a teacher and then as a recruitment consultant, developing a strong sense of social responsibility and public service.

Political Career

Entry into Parliament

  • Amess first stood for Parliament in 1979 in Newham North West (unsuccessfully).
  • Elected as MP for Basildon in 1983, riding the Conservative wave under Margaret Thatcher.
  • His Basildon seat became a symbol of Middle England, and his re-election in 1992 was widely seen as signalling John Major’s surprise national victory.

Southend West MP (1997–2021)

  • After boundary changes, he moved to the Southend West constituency, where he served continuously from 1997 until his death in 2021.
  • He became one of the longest-serving MPs in the Commons, with nearly 40 years of service.
  • Known for being independent-minded, Amess voted according to his conscience rather than strict party lines, especially on moral and animal welfare issues.

Animal Welfare Advocacy

Sir David Amess was one of the most prominent animal welfare champions in British politics.

  • Patron and supporter of numerous animal charities, including:
    • The League Against Cruel Sports
    • Humane Society International UK
    • Dogs Trust
    • The Donkey Sanctuary
    • Compassion in World Farming
  • Served as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Animal Welfare.
  • Campaigned for:
    • Ending live animal exports for slaughter.
    • Banning puppy farming and illegal puppy imports.
    • Better regulation of pet sales and breeding.
    • Improved standards for farm animal welfare.
  • Consistently opposed fox hunting and other blood sports, often at odds with traditional Conservative views.

In 2020, he supported the Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill, which increased penalties for animal cruelty and formally recognised animals as sentient beings in UK law.

He often described animals as “innocent beings who depend entirely on human compassion and decency.”

❤️ Community, Faith, and Causes

  • A devout Roman Catholic, he often campaigned on pro-life issues and spoke about the moral responsibilities of politicians.
  • Promoted mental health awareness, endometriosis care, and accessibility for people with disabilities.
  • Authored a humorous and heartfelt memoir, Ayes & Ears: A Survivor’s Guide to Westminster (2020), giving insight into his experiences in Parliament and his devotion to Southend.
  • One of his long-term dreams was to have Southend-on-Sea declared a city, a goal posthumously achieved in 2022 as a tribute to his life and service.

⚔️ Death and Legacy

  • Sir David Amess was tragically killed on 15 October 2021 during a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
  • His murder shocked the nation and highlighted concerns about the safety of MPs and public servants.
  • He was posthumously remembered for his kindness, humour, accessibility, and unwavering commitment to his community.
  • The City of Southend-on-Sea was formally granted city status in his honour — fulfilling his long-held ambition.
  • In Parliament and across the political spectrum, he was celebrated as a true public servant, devoted family man, and friend to animals.



Gloria’s and Jon’s wedding

Memories, Photos, ,
The wedding party in Royal Square, St. Helier

Twenty-five years ago, I placed an advert in the lonely-hearts section of the local free newspaper. Three ladies responded and I arranged dates with two of them. I had a pleasant evening with the first on the Saturday of the August bank holiday, and on the Sunday, I had arranged to have Sunday lunch with Gloria. We arranged a rendezvous in the Homebase car park and Gloria was very trusting in getting into my shiny new Peugeot and I drove to the Cricketers Pub in Danbury. We had a very nice lunch, and we hit it off really well, so much so that Gloria invited me back to her house and our date actually lasted for twelve hours. I left her house at around midnight. The following morning, Bank Holiday Monday, my telephone rang at 7:00 and I wondered who would phone me at that time. it was Gloria and she wanted to see me again, so I went to her house that day. We have been together ever since, and Gloria moved in with me after about six months.

We knew quite early on that we would like to get married but there was a slight complication that Gloria’s divorce hadn’t come through. One of the people in my office in London suggested that we should get married in Jersey because Gloria did not want to get married locally in Southend. At the end of September 2001, we had booked a flight to Jersey and on the morning that we were going Gloria received her decree absolute through the post which we took with us.

We had intended to look for a suitable place to get married in Jersey and when we went into the main registry office in Saint Helier that seemed the perfect setting. The Assistant Registrar emerged from his office to talk to us. He produced his book to write us in. We were offered a date in a couple of weeks. We explained that that was a little quick and the date we fixed on was actually three weeks away on a Friday, because apparently only Jersey residents are allowed to be married on Saturdays in the register office.

So about three weeks later we went back to Jersey, were resident for the required period of four days prior to getting married. Our wedding day was wonderful, with a dozen of us there. My sister and her husband made it, along with one of my cousins, and some dear friends and also two colleagues from my firm’s Jersey office. We had a very pleasant lunch at a hotel on Gorey Pier where we were staying and we were very fortunate with the weather which was bright sunny and warm for the whole duration of our stay.

The family group with my brother-in-law, Michael, my cousin Jane and my sister Marion.
Signing the register.

We have been back to Jersey many times because we have such lovely memories of the island. We have been very lucky that we found each other, and we have had such a happy time, indeed many happy times since then.

We have been fortunate to also visit Florida a number of times and have also been to South Africa and St. Lucia.

Some of our friends and relations probably thought we were taking a risk by getting married after only having met each other a year earlier but we made the right decision between us and I’m very thankful that that we have had twenty-five years together.

My lovely wife at Arundel Castle.
Gloria at the cafe at St. Catherine’s Bay, Jersey.
La Corbiere lighthouse, Jersey.
Gorey Bay, Pier and Castle.

School bullying and me

Health, , ,

I was bullied badly at Brentwood School. My grades and exams were badly affected, I left school in 1969 feeling a failure and took years to recover. M D Nutt and an individual called Szolin were the worst both with physical abuse and mental torture which affected me for decades. I am better now, but rather late. I had been top of the class at primary school at St John’s School, Billericay, Essex in 1963. The only thing I drew from school was amateur radio.