Sir Robert Anthony Bevis Durant (9 January 1928 – 18 February 2016), also known as Tony Durant, was a British Conservative Party politician.

Sir Anthony Durant
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
In office
20 December 1988 – 25 July 1990
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded byMichael Neubert
Succeeded byDavid Lightbown
Personal details
Born9 January 1928
Died18 February 2016(2016-02-18) (aged 88)

Political career

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Durant stood unsuccessfully for Rother Valley in the 1970 general election; the seat was retained by Labour's Peter Hardy. In 1971 Durant supported Margaret Thatcher's decision to end free school milk on the grounds that many children did not like it.[1]

He was the Member of Parliament for Reading North from 1974 to 1983. After Reading's constituencies underwent boundary changes, he was the Member of Parliament for Reading West from 1983 to 1997. During his time in the Commons, he acted as a Whip. Announced in the 1991 New Year Honours,[2] he was knighted on 14 February 1991.[3]

In 1994, he successfully campaigned for the lowering of the homosexual age of consent.[1] He retired from politics at the 1997 UK general election.[4]

Durant served as president of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and the River Thames Society, chairman of the Sports Aid Foundation’s southern region, as a governor of the British Film Institute, and a Freeman of the City of London and the Watermen and Lightermen’s Company.[1][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Sir Anthony Durant, Tory MP – obituary". Daily Telegraph. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  2. ^ "No. 52382". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1990. p. 1.
  3. ^ "No. 52543". The London Gazette. 28 May 1991. p. 8208.
  4. ^ "Mr Anthony Durant". TheyWorkForYou.com. UK Citizens Online Democracy. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  5. ^ "National Lottery Etc Bill - Report Stage". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 28 April 1993. col. 1065–1066.
Political offices
Preceded by Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
1988 – 1990
Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency Member for Reading North
1974–1983
Constituency abolished
New constituency Member for Reading West
1983–1997
Succeeded by