Charles Longbottom
Encyclopedia
Charles Brooke Longbottom (born 22 July 1930) is a British
barrister, businessman and politician. In recent years his interest has turned to Christian
healing and education.
and then read for the Bar, being called in 1958 by the Inner Temple
. He was interested in politics from an early age and was Vice Chairman of the Young Conservatives Advisory Committee in 1953-1954; while a student he was part of the United Kingdom delegation to the World Assembly of Youth Services in Genval, Belgium.
in the 1955 general election
, Longbottom was selected for York
and won the seat in the 1959 general election
. Iain Macleod
, the Leader of the House of Commons
, picked him as his Parliamentary Private Secretary
in 1961; he served until Macleod went out of office in 1963.
Longbottom went into the shipbuilding business. He was chairman of Austin and Pickersgill shipbuilders (based in Sunderland) from 1966 to 1972, and of A&P Appledore International Ltd
from 1970 to 1979. He joined Seascope in 1970 and was chairman of several subsidiary companies. In the 1980s his business career diversified into financial services and was a Director of Henry Ansbacher & Co from 1982 to 1987.
Although not attempting a return into politics, Longbottom was considered for public appointments. He had been made a member of the General Advisory Committee of the BBC
in 1965 and served ten years, and was also a member of the Community Relations Commission from 1968 to 1970.
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
barrister, businessman and politician. In recent years his interest has turned to Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
healing and education.
Early career
Longbottom was educated at Uppingham SchoolUppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
and then read for the Bar, being called in 1958 by the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. He was interested in politics from an early age and was Vice Chairman of the Young Conservatives Advisory Committee in 1953-1954; while a student he was part of the United Kingdom delegation to the World Assembly of Youth Services in Genval, Belgium.
Parliament
After fighting Stockton-on-TeesStockton-on-Tees (UK Parliament constituency)
Stockton-on-Tees is a former borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in the 1955 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1955
The 1955 United Kingdom general election was held on 26 May 1955, four years after the previous general election. It resulted in a substantially increased majority of 60 for the Conservative government under new leader and prime minister Sir Anthony Eden against Labour Party, now in their 20th year...
, Longbottom was selected for York
City of York (UK Parliament constituency)
The City of York was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
and won the seat in the 1959 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1959
This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan...
. Iain Macleod
Iain Macleod
Iain Norman Macleod was a British Conservative Party politician and government minister.-Early life:...
, the Leader of the House of Commons
Leader of the House of Commons
The Leader of the House of Commons is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Commons...
, picked him as his Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
in 1961; he served until Macleod went out of office in 1963.
Maritime business career
After losing his seat at the 1966 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1966
The 1966 United Kingdom general election on 31 March 1966 was called by sitting Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson's decision to call an election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964 had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs...
Longbottom went into the shipbuilding business. He was chairman of Austin and Pickersgill shipbuilders (based in Sunderland) from 1966 to 1972, and of A&P Appledore International Ltd
Appledore Shipbuilders
-History:The Appledore Yard was founded in 1855 on the estuary of the River Torridge. The Richmond Dry Dock was built in 1856 by William Yeo and named after Richmond Bay in Prince Edward Island, where the Yeo family's shipping fleet was based....
from 1970 to 1979. He joined Seascope in 1970 and was chairman of several subsidiary companies. In the 1980s his business career diversified into financial services and was a Director of Henry Ansbacher & Co from 1982 to 1987.
Although not attempting a return into politics, Longbottom was considered for public appointments. He had been made a member of the General Advisory Committee of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in 1965 and served ten years, and was also a member of the Community Relations Commission from 1968 to 1970.
Current activities
More recently Longbottom served 16 years as a Director of British Shipbuilders, and has been Chairman of MC Shipping Inc. since 2004. However his main interest has been in Christian healing and education. He was Chairman of Acorn Christian Healing Trust and the Acorn Christian Foundation from 1988 to 2001. Since 2003 he has been Chairman of the Awareness FoundationAwareness Foundation
The Awareness Foundation was established in 2003 to help Christians make sense of their faith in the 21st Century, and to increase awareness of their neighbours’ faiths and cultures, so that they can live in a diverse society without fear and without compromising their beliefs. Their Patron is the...
.