A former Conservative Member of Parliament from West London, Patrick Ground, has passed away at the age of 93. Ground represented the Feltham and Heston constituency for nearly nine years, having first been elected during the 1983 general election. He lost his re-election bid in 1992.
Before his time in Parliament, Ground served as a councillor in Hammersmith and Fulham from 1968 to 1971, where he represented the Parson’s Green ward. In April 2015, he was appointed to the ceremonial position of president of the Feltham and Heston Conservative Association.
Born in 1932 in West Ham, Ground experienced the challenges of the Second World War. He married Caroline Dugdale in 1964 and is survived by his daughter Elizabeth, his sons Andrew, Richard, and Thomas, as well as his grandchildren. Notably, Andrew is currently a candidate for election in Hammersmith and Fulham this May.
Peter Thompson, the Leader of the Hounslow Conservative Group, announced Ground’s passing on social media, expressing his condolences. He remarked,
„Sad news of the passing of Patrick Ground, former MP for Feltham and Heston. Patrick was a true gentleman and a dedicated public servant. It was always a pleasure to meet Patrick over the years, and what stood out most was that, even long after his time as MP for Feltham and Heston, he never lost touch with the community he represented.“
Thompson continued,
„He continued to care deeply about his former constituency and the people in it, which says so much about the kind of man he was. He served as Conservative MP for Feltham and Heston from 1983 to 1992, and later remained connected locally as president of the constituency association. He will be remembered not just for his years in public life, but for his warmth, loyalty, and enduring commitment to local people. My thoughts are with his family and all who knew him. May he rest in peace.“
During his tenure as a backbencher, Ground frequently addressed issues related to local government and planning. He was an advocate for collectivist social advancement and opposed the direct redistribution of income and wealth. In the House of Commons, he strongly argued against defining poverty primarily in relative terms.
Outside of his political career, Patrick Ground was a barrister specializing in planning law. He was called to the Bar in 1960 and became a Queens Counsel in 1981.
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Bildquelle: Foto von JUNHYUNG PARK auf Unsplash
