Patrick McNair-Wilson

Sir Patrick McNair-Wilson
Member of Parliament for New Forest
In office
7 November 1968 – 8 April 1997
Preceded byOliver Crosthwaite-Eyre
Succeeded byconstituency abolished
Member of Parliament for Lewisham West
In office
15 October 1964 – 10 March 1966
Preceded byHenry Price
Succeeded byJames Dickens
Personal details
Born(1929-05-28)28 May 1929
Died4 December 2025(2025-12-04) (aged 96)
PartyConservative
Spouse
Diana Methuen-Campbell
(m. 1953; died 2015)
Children5
RelativesMichael McNair-Wilson (brother)
Laura Farris (niece)
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service years1947–1952
UnitColdstream Guards

Sir Patrick Michael Ernest David McNair-Wilson (28 May 1929 – 4 December 2025) was a British Conservative Member of Parliament and consultant.[1]

Early life and career

McNair-Wilson was born in Camden, London on 28 May 1929, the son of Robert McNair-Wilson.[1] He was educated at Eton College and was commissioned in the Coldstream Guards from 1947 to 1952, serving in Palestine and North Africa. From 1951 to 1953, he was an executive at the French Shipping Company.[1]

He joined the staff of Conservative Central Office in 1954, working for them until 1958. He became a director of the London Municipal Society in 1961, remaining in the role until 1963. In the same period, he was editor of The Londoner.[1] He was also a broadcaster.

McNair-Wilson was the member of parliament for Lewisham West from 1964 until he lost the seat to Labour in 1966. He then won the 1968 by-election in the New Forest constituency, representing this safe Conservative seat until his retirement in 1997.[1]

Personal life and death

His younger brother Sir Michael McNair-Wilson and his niece Laura Farris were both served as an MP for Newbury in separate terms.[2]

In 1953, McNair-Wilson married Diana Evelyn Kitty Campbell Methuen-Campbell, the daughter of the Hon. Laurence Methuen-Campbell. She died in 2015.[1] The couple had five children; Jennifer Jean McNair-Wilson, Arabella Jane Campbell McNair-Wilson, Patricia Anne Campbell McNair-Wilson, Guy Patrick Adam Campbell McNair-Wilson and Kate Campbell McNair-Wilson . McNair-Wilson's recreations were sailing, pottery and flying. He lived on a farm in Beaulieu, Hampshire.[1]

McNair-Wilson died at a care home in Sway, Hampshire, on 4 December 2025, at the age of 96.[3][4]

Honours

McNair-Wilson was awarded a knighthood in the 1989 Birthday Honours for political service.[1][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "McNair-wilson, Sir Patrick (Michael Ernest David), (born 28 May 1929), consultant". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u26150. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Introducing the six candidates shortlisted for Devizes". ConservativeHome. 28 October 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  3. ^ Yandell, Chris (17 December 2025). "Tributes to former MP who became involved in bypass controversy". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Obituary – Sir Patrick McNair-Wilson". Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  5. ^ United Kingdom list: "No. 51772". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 1989. p. 2.

Sources