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RT HON SIR MENZIES ‘MING’ CAMPBELL CBE QC MP
Former
Liberal
Party leader Ming Campbell is an engaging writer and a popular charismatic public speaker.
His journalism has appeared in a variety of publications and he is
appreciated for his dry humour and wit.
He is currently much in demand as a humorous after dinner speaker.
Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP was born in 1941. He was educated at Hillhead High School and Glasgow University, where he graduated MA, LLB and was President of the Union from 1964-1965. He also attended Stanford University, California, where he carried out postgraduate studies in international law.
As an international athlete, he competed in the 1964 (Tokyo) Olympic Games and the 1966 (Jamaica) Commonwealth Games. He captained the United Kingdom athletics team 1965 and 1966 and held the UK 100 metres record 1967-1974.
In 1970 he married Elspeth Urquhart, eldest daughter of Major General R.E. Urquhart CB DSO who commanded the British First Airborne Division at Arnhem. He was called to the Scottish Bar as an Advocate in 1968, and appointed Queens Counsel in 1982. He was on the Scottish Sports Council for ten years and is a trustee of the Scottish International Education Trust.
He was until 1987 Chairman of the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. He also served on the Broadcasting Council for Scotland from 1984 until 1987 and was a member of the Clayson Committee on liquor licensing reform in Scotland.
He was Chairman of the Scottish Liberal Party 1975-1977 and parliamentary candidate 1974(twice), 1979, 1983 and 1987 when he was elected as Member of Parliament for North East Fife which contains St Andrews, famous for its University founded in 1411, and the Home of Golf, the Old Course. He retained his seat in both 1992 and 1997 with increased majorities.
He was awarded the CBE in the 1987 New Years Honours, and was appointed Chief Spokesman for the Liberal Democrats in Parliament on Foreign Affairs, Defence & Europe.
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