John Cockcroft (politician)
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English John Hoyle Cockcroft (6 July 1934 – 25 April 2023) was a British Conservative politician and journalist.
Early life and education
Cockcroft was born on 6 July 1934 in Todmorden, Yorkshire, to Lionel Cockroft and Jenny Hoyle.<ref name=Debretts>John Cockcroft listing at Debrett's website. Accessed 1 February 2010.</ref><ref name="auto">Template:Cite news</ref> He was educated at Oundle School, and attended St John's College, Cambridge, as a senior major scholar, graduating with a degree in History and Economics in 1958. That same year, he was elected president of the Cambridge Union Society.<ref>Template:Who's Who</ref> He served as a lieutenant in the Royal Army from 1953 to 1955.<ref name=Debretts />
Career
Cockcroft worked as a journalist from 1959 to 1974, and again from 1981 through to 1986, writing for the Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, and Sunday Telegraph.<ref name=Debretts /> He was member of Parliament for Nantwich in Cheshire from February 1974 until his retirement in 1979.<ref name=Debretts /><ref>Mr John Cockcroft MP Nantwich at the Public Whip website. Accessed 1 February 2010.</ref><ref>Millbank Systems website. Accessed 1 February 2010.</ref> He served on numerous boards and commissions.<ref name=Debretts />
Personal life and death
In 1971, Cockcroft married Tessa Shepley. They had three daughters.<ref name="auto"/> In retirement, Cockcroft lived in Chelmsford. He continued to write and read, despite failing eyesight. Cockcroft died on 25 April 2023, at the age of 88.<ref name="TimesObit">Template:Cite news</ref>
Cockcroft's uncle was the Nobel-prize winning physicist Sir John Cockcroft.<ref name="TimesObit"/>
References
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