Unique Plaque to Baron Weatherill, Member of the UK Parliament and Speaker of the House, attached to the Indian Cavalry Regiment 19th King George Vs Own Lancers during WW2

A large wooden plaque finished in a black gloss veneer with copy gilt badges of the 19th King George V's Own Lancers badges and battle honours and a smaller engraved plaque confirming its presentation to the Right Honourable Bernard Weatherill at his visit to Hyderabad Pakistan on the 9th August 1989. In good overall condition. Some marks to black gloss finish but otherwise in good condition and a hinge on the reverse for mounting. Circa 23cms wide and 20 cms tall and 1.5cms deep.

Bernard Weatherill enlisted as a private in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry of the British Army a few days after the start of WW2. He was commissioned into the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards in May 1941 and reached the rank of captain three years after that. He was attached to 19th King George V's Own Lancers, Indian Army, after being posted to Burma. He left the Army in 1946. He was elected Member of Parliament (MP) on 15 October 1964 for Croydon North East as a Conservative. He became a party whip only three years later, and deputy Chief Whip six years after that. He was re-elected seven times for the same seat until his retirement in 1992, and was made a life peer on 15 July 1992 taking the title Baron Weatherill, of North East Croydon in the London Borough of Croydon.

He was Speaker of the House of Commons from 1983 to 1992. As Speaker at the time television cameras were first allowed to cover proceedings in the House of Commons, he became widely known due to broadcasts of Prime Minister's Questions.

Bernard Weatherill was the last Speaker to wear a wig while in the chair. He commented that the wig is a wonderful device that allows the Speaker to pretend not to hear some things. He enforced the rights of Parliament to be publicly told of government policies before they were announced to the press or elsewhere.

Please note will only post to a UK address on account of its weight.

Comm StWi (331)

Code: 64507