Nigel Jones, Baron Jones of Cheltenham

Early life

Nigel Jones was born in Cheltenham on 30 March 1948. He attended Prince Henry's Grammar School, Evesham. After leaving school, he worked as a computer operator for Westminster Bank from 1965 to 1967, and then as a computer programmer at International Computers Limited (ICL) from 1967 to 1970. From 1970 to 1971, he worked as a systems analyst at Vehicle and General Insurance, and as a systems programmer at Atkins Computing, before he rejoined ICL as a project manager in 1971. From 1989, Jones was a councillor on Gloucestershire County Council. He resigned from both ICL and Gloucestershire County Council in 1992, when he was elected to Parliament.

Parliamentary career

Jones was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cheltenham as a Liberal Democrat at the 1992 general election, winning the seat from the Conservative Party. He had previously contested the seat unsuccessfully as a Liberal Party candidate at the 1979 general election.

Jones was a member of the public accounts committee from 2002 to 2005. He was also the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for a number of topics, including local government (1992–93), sport science and technology (1993), consumer affairs (1995-97), sport and culture (1997–99), trade and industry (1997–99) and international development (1999). Jones retained the seat until standing down at the 2005 general election.

Attack and killing of Andrew Pennington

On 28 January 2000, a man, later identified as Robert Ashman, entered Jones's constituency office and attacked him and his assistant, local County councillor Andrew Pennington, with a katana. As a result of the attack, Pennington was killed, and Jones was severely injured. Jones required 57 stitches to close wounds to his hand from the assault.

Jones had written a character reference for Ashman when Ashman was nearly jailed after breaking the ribs of a tax collector in 1992. After the attack at Jones's office, Ashman was charged with manslaughter and attempted murder, but the jury at his trial found him to be mentally unfit to stand trial. He was detained in Broadmoor for observation, and the Home Office authorised a further trial in September 2002. He was subsequently found guilty of attempted murder, and he admitted to Pennington's manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility in 2003.

Pennington was posthumously awarded the George Medal for his attempts to protect Jones.

Peerage

On 13 May 2005, it was announced that Jones would be created a life peer, and he was subsequently elevated to the peerage on 20 June 2005 as Baron Jones of Cheltenham, of Cheltenham in the County of Gloucestershire. As well as many outside interests, he acted as a non-executive consultant for BFC Marcomms Ltd, a Wiltshire-based public relations consultancy.

Personal life and death

Jones married Katherine Grinnell in 1981 at the British Embassy, Abu Dhabi. They had a son, Sam, and twin daughters, Amy and Lucy. Jones died during heart surgery on 7 November 2022, at the age of 74.

Arms

In popular culture

In Official Secrets, a 2019 British-American docudrama film, Jones is portrayed by Chris Larkin.

References

References

1. GRO Register of Births: JUN 1948 7b 482 CHELTENHAM – Nigel D. Jones, mmn = Hughes
2. "Nigel Jones". Guardian News and Media Limited.
3. (21 February 2001). "Ashman: Family Man turned Killer". BBC News.
4. (19 February 2001). "Politician died in 'sacrificial killing'".
5. Hope, Christopher. (19 March 2009). "Former MP attacked with sword fears for his safety after assailant tries to move in nearby". The Daily Telegraph.
6. (21 February 2001). "Sword man sent to secure hospital". BBC News.
7. (3 April 2003). "MP's sword attacker guilty". BBC News.
8. (30 October 2001). "Medal for man who died saving MP". BBC News.
9. "Data".
10. {{London Gazette. (29 October 2001)
11. "Lord Jones of Cheltenham". UK Parliament.
12. (11 November 2022). "Lord Jones of Cheltenham obituary". The Times.