Death of a whip

I am close to the end of my studies of US and UK whips. One of the most interesting part of the research involved looking at the lives of the individuals who served as whips in either the US Congress and UK Parliament. I met many whips, and read about many more. There were some very interesting characters. The study covered 1974 to 2010, though I went further back for some whips of particular significance (Lyndon Johnson, Carl Albert, Tip O'Neill and, from the UK, Ted Short for example). As a result some of them have passed away - and time continues to take its toll.

Robert Boscawen passed away just after Christmas. He came from what was once the ideal background for a Tory whip, having served in a leadership role in the army. [He was awarded the Military Cross]. However, unlike many whips, he was associated with a particular wing of the party. He served in the whips office for the greater part of Mrs Thatcher's premiership.

His obituary was published in the Daily Telegraph and can be accessed here.

The Oldest Living Congressmen

There are two former Congressmen - William Walsh (pictured - Dec 2009) and Perkins Bass, who are both aged 98. They also are both fathers of Congressmen! A list on Wikipedia (OK it's a source to be taken with a great pinch of salt - I once found a claim that the Peer who I sat next to was the Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords - he was surprised as I was by this news - which had no basis in fact - but the article cites both the Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present and the The Political Graveyard as sources - I haven't fully checked out the raw data, but am prepared - as long as no one relies on the claims - to accept it) - lists the 100 oldest surviving members of Congress - the 100th oldest is 85 years, & 283 days.

Perkins Bass first sat in the House of Representatives on January 3, 1955 - later that year John Dingell - who still sits in the House, joined him (though Bass is a Republican and Dingell a Democrat). Lord Glenamara, better known to most people as Ted Short, is still alive and a member of the House of Lords (I've not seen him there, but he has a Life Peerage) was also born in 1912.