A FORMER Bolton
MP who sensationally
quit the governing
Conservative party
when it was plagued
by political turmoil
has died.
Peter Thurnham, who
represented Bolton
North-east from 1983 to
1997, died on Saturday
after a short battle with
pancreatic cancer just
hours after marrying his
second wife, Carole.
He died at his home near
Bentham in Lancashire,
aged 69.
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Mr Thurnham was a
colourful figure. His most
controversial moment
saw him crossing the
floor of the House of
Commons and joining
the Liberal Democrats in
October, 1996, furthering
the decline of the already
struggling Conservative
party.
He did not contest the
seat in the 1997 elections
and it was won by David
Crausby.
As an MP, Mr Thurnham
lived in Kendal. He took
a particular interest in
child and disability
issues, something he had
direct experience of
when he adopted a
severely mentally and
physically handicapped
son, Stephen.
He also promoted the
benefits of IVF research.
In Bolton, he
campaigned to improve
housing in the more
deprived areas of the
town, bringing in millions
of pounds to improve
living conditions in
Halliwell.
His daughter Sophie,
aged 41, who lives in
Kenya, said: "He was an
inspiring father. He was
very hard working and a
great role model. He
particularly enjoyed
being a grandfather.
"He saw being a
constitunecy MP as
being his most important
role and his voting
record proved that. He
wanted to put Bolton on
the map and tried to get
all the funding he
possibly could."
Bolton Council's
Conservative group
leader Cllr John Walsh
was Mr Thurnham's
agent in the 1992 election
which he won by just 185
votes.
He said: "Peter worked
extremely hard as an MP
for Bolton North-east
and he made a mark on
the town. He was an
outstanding constituency
Member of Parliament."
Lib Dem Cllr Barbara
Ronson said: "My main
dealings with Peter were
in his voluntary capacity.
"I had a great deal of
respect for all the work
he did for young people
and disabilities."
Mr Thurnham's
marriage to Sarah broke
down and they divorced
in 2004. They had five
children.
His funeral will be held
at St John the Baptist
church in Tunstall, near
Kirkby Lonsdale, on
Wednesday at 11.30am.
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