Life of Lord Biffen recalled

John Biffen was the one politician with whom former Prime Minister Tony Blair famously said he would willingly share a desert island.

At a memorial service in Westminister, those whose lives he shared and enriched - family, friends and political celebrities - gathered to celebrate the life and career of the former Shropshire MP.

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A member of ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's inner circle in the 1970s, he entered Parliament in 1961 as Conservative MP for Oswestry, later renamed North Shropshire, before becoming Lord Biffen of Tanat in 1997.

Hundreds attended the commemorative service at St Margaret's Church yesterday including his widow, Sarah, and his stepchildren, Nicholas Wood and Lucy Eggleton, both of whom gave readings. Special prayers were said for the politician who died last August at the age of 76.

Led by the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, tributes were paid to Lord Biffen during the service which included hymns, poetry and a reading from The St George's Day address written by Enoch Powell, of whom the county MP had been a disciple.

One of the most humourous and engaging addresses came from North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, who had the pews of dignitaries, which included Baroness Thatcher, Lord Heseltine, Baron Lawson and Kenneth Clarke MP, erupting with laughter.

He said of his predecessor: "His natural politeness was combined with real kindness towards others. Added to his conscientiousness and capacity for hard work, he was a phenomenally effective local MP.

"All this, combined with his sagacity, his impartiality on local matters and his readiness to work with all parties for the good of the county made him immensely popular."

Mr Paterson described Lord Biffen as a man with "innate modesty" whose total lack of pomposity could be seen at social or political events.

"It was inconceivable that he should do anything so brash as 'working a room'," he recalled. "Instead, John would always be seen in a corner with a glass of beer chatting to an old friend or two. Yet if anyone wanted a word, he was always available and they knew it.

"His dress showed that he was one of the least vain people I have ever met. I am told that Sarah 'did for' a number of amazing old suits and ensured that socks were of the same colour. But he was still proud of an interesting pair of burgundy cords with a slight flair ending two inches above the ankle."

The son of a Somerset farmer, Lord Biffen was respected across the political spectrum for his honesty and for speaking his mind.

A eurosceptic, he remained on the backbenches under the leadership of Edward Heath, an ardent europhile.

But he excelled under his successor, serving as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, trade minister and then Leader of the House of Commons under the Iron Lady, but was never content to meekly toe the party line.

In fact her spokesman Bernard Ingham famously described him as "semi-detached" for daring to suggest, in 1986, that she might not go on forever.

After the hour-long service, scores of friends and family milled around outside the church, recalling their fond memories of the much-loved man.

Kenneth Clarke said: "He was one of my long-standing colleagues of whom I was most fond. He was very impressive as his own man in politics and a very, very nice guy to boot."

David Lloyd, leader of Oswestry Borough Council, described him as a "unique and shy man, but such a force in politics".

Lady Biffen, overwhelmed by the number of people at the service, said: "John will have been delighted. I thought everything went so beautifully."

By Sunita Patel

Lady Sarah Biffen arrives for the service accompanied by family members.

Baroness Thatcher at the service in Westminster.

Baroness Boothroyd.

Neil and Christine Hamilton.

Lord and Lady Heseltine.

Baroness Thatcher greets Lady Sarah Biffen. Picture: Laura Dutfield.