Arthur Vere Harvey, Baron Harvey of Prestbury

Arthur Vere Harvey, Baron Harvey of Prestbury, CBE (31 January 1906 – 5 April 1994) was a senior Royal Air Force officer and a British Conservative politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for 26 years.

Air Commodore The Right Honourable The Lord Harvey of Prestbury CBE
Member of Parliament for Macclesfield
In office 5 July 1945 – 1971
Preceded by	W. Garfield Weston
Succeeded by	Sir Nicholas Winterton
Personal details
Born	Arthur Vere Harvey 31 January 1906
Died	5 April 1994 (aged 88) Saint Martin, Guernsey
Political party	Conservative
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1925–1930 1937–1945
Rank	Air Commodore
Commands	No. 10 (Fighter) Group (1944) RAF Coltishall (1943) No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron (1937–40)
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Commander of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in Despatches (2)

Early life and Second World War

Harvey was educated at Framlingham College, Suffolk and served with the Royal Air Force 1925–30 and during the Second World War. He was an advisor to the Southern Chinese Air Forces 1932–35 and a squadron leader in the Auxiliary Air Force in 1937. He founded the No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron and commanded it through the Battle of France. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1942.[1] He later became a company chairman and director of several firms.

Member of Parliament

Harvey was selected as the Conservative candidate for Macclesfield after the previous candidate Guy Gibson was killed in action. Harvey was elected as Member of Parliament for Macclesfield in 1945, and held the seat in seven further general elections. He was knighted in 1957.[2] In the Commons, Harvey was chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee from 1966–1970. On 14 October 1969 he was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Macclesfield.[3]

Harvey was created a life peer as Baron Harvey of Prestbury, of Prestbury in the County Palatine of Chester on 1 May 1971.[4] He was succeeded as MP in the subsequent by-election by fellow-Conservative, Nicholas Winterton.

Family and later life

He was married three times.

• in 1940 to Jacqueline Dunnett (two sons, marriage dissolved 1954)
• in 1955 Mrs Hilary Williams (died 1978; marriage dissolved 1977)
• in 1978 Mrs Carol Cassar-Torreggiani; three adopted daughters.

He died at St Martin's Port, Guernsey 5 April 1994.[5]

Arms

Coat of arms of Arthur Vere Harvey, Baron Harvey of Prestbury

Crest A roundel Gules charged with a roundel Argent thereon a roundel Azure charged with two fleurs-de-lis in fess Or. Escutcheon Per pale Argent and Sable a chevron counterchanged between two lions passant respectant the dexter Azure the sinister Or in chief a tun counterchanged in base on a chief Vert a garb between two fleurs-de-lis Or. Supporters On either side a rabbit Argent charged on the shoulder with a fleur-de-lis Vert. Motto Je Noublieray Jamais [6]

Notes

1. "No. 35586". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 1942. p. 2487.
2. "No. 41134". The London Gazette. 23 July 1957. p. 4379.
3. Sir Nick is made a Freeman, Macclesfield Express
4. "No. 45361". The London Gazette. 6 May 1971. p. 4626.
5. "Obituary: Lord Harvey of Prestbury". The Independent. 8 April 1994.
6. Debrett's Peerage. 1985.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir Arthur Harvey