Memorial service for respected former MP

It will take place at Clitheroe Parish Church on Saturday, July 1st, at 1pm.

And the following day a new church window, funded by the Waddington family in honour of the well-known politician, is being dedicated at St John’s Church in Read, at 1pm.

Members of the public are being invited to attend both events.

Former Ribble Valley MP Lord Waddington died in February aged 87.

Born in Burnley in 1929, he was a barrister at first before becoming a politician and was first elected to Parliament in 1968 at a by-election in Nelson and Colne. He was re-elected in 1970 and in February 1974, but lost his seat at the October 1974 General Election.

He was returned to Parliament for Clitheroe at the by-election in March 1979, and was subsequently elected for the newly-created Ribble Valley constituency in 1983.

Lord Waddington also held several key roles in Parliament. As Home Secretary, he led the Home Office at the time of the poll tax riots and the Strangeways prison disturbances in the Spring of 1990.

A supporter of capital punishment, he took a tougher line on law and order issues than his predecessor, Douglas Hurd, piloting legislation through the Commons in 1990 to ensure serious criminals served longer sentences.

He also served as chief whip under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and after leaving the House of Commons, served as leader of the House of Lords and latterly as governor of Bermuda.

Throughout his political career, the former barrister lived for many years in both Sabden and Read.

He and his wife, Lady Gillian Waddington, had five children and lived at Whins House, Sabden, for a considerable period, where he enjoyed leisure pursuits which included fishing on Churn Clough Reservoir.

Down-to-earth and always approachable, along with his wife, Lord Waddington was a supportive figurehead for numerous organisations throughout the Ribble Valley.