Cheryl Gillan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Right Honourable Dame
Cheryl Gillan
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Official portrait, 2020
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| Chairman of the 1922 Committee | |
| Acting 24 May 2019 – 3 September 2019 Serving with Charles Walker
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| Leader | |
| Preceded by | Graham Brady |
| Succeeded by | Graham Brady |
| Secretary of State for Wales | |
| In office 12 May 2010 – 4 September 2012 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Peter Hain |
| Succeeded by | David Jones |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Wales | |
| In office 8 December 2005 – 11 May 2010 |
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| Leader | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Bill Wiggin |
| Succeeded by | Peter Hain |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment |
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| In office 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 |
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| Prime Minister | John Major |
| Preceded by | Tim Boswell |
| Succeeded by | Estelle Morris |
| Member of Parliament for Chesham and Amersham |
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| In office 9 April 1992 – 4 April 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Ian Gilmour |
| Succeeded by | Sarah Green |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan
21 April 1952 Cardiff, Wales |
| Died | 4 April 2021 (aged 68) Epsom, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Jack Leeming
(m. 1985; died 2019) |
| Education | Cheltenham Ladies' College |
| Alma mater | College of Law |
Dame Cheryl Gillan was an important British politician. She was a Member of Parliament (MP) for 29 years. She represented the area of Chesham and Amersham from 1992 until her death in 2021.
A member of the Conservative Party, she held a big job in government. She was the Secretary of State for Wales from 2010 to 2012. This meant she was in charge of government business related to Wales.
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Who Was Cheryl Gillan?
Cheryl Gillan was a dedicated politician who worked hard for her country. She started her career in business before becoming an MP. She held several important roles in the government and in her party.
Early Life and Education
Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan was born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1952. Her father was a former army officer. Her mother was a member of the Women's Royal Naval Service.
She grew up in South Wales on a family farm. When she was 11, her family moved away from Wales. She went to Cheltenham Ladies' College and later studied law.
Starting in Politics
Before becoming an MP, Cheryl Gillan worked in marketing. She was a director for several companies. She also became a Freeman of the City of London.
In 1992, she was elected to the House of Commons. This is where MPs meet to make laws. She won the seat for Chesham and Amersham. She continued to be the MP for this area until she passed away.
In her early years as an MP, she served on special committees. These committees look closely at different topics like science. In 1995, she became a junior minister. This meant she had a smaller role in the government. She worked in the Department for Education and Employment.
Important Roles in Government
After 1997, her party was no longer in power. Cheryl Gillan became a spokesperson for her party. She spoke about trade, foreign affairs, and home affairs.
She also helped create an important law for people with autism. She introduced the Autism Act 2009. This law helps people with autism get the support they need.
Shadow Welsh Secretary
From 2005 to 2010, she was the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales. This meant she was the main spokesperson for her party on Welsh issues. She would challenge the government's plans for Wales.
She had not always supported the National Assembly for Wales. But once she became Shadow Welsh Secretary, she supported it. She worked to improve how Wales was governed.
Secretary of State for Wales
In 2010, her party won the general election. David Cameron became Prime Minister. He appointed Cheryl Gillan as the Secretary of State for Wales. This was a very important job. She was now a member of the government's top team, called the Cabinet.
During her time in this role, she made several key decisions for Wales. She helped set up a vote on law-making powers for the Welsh Assembly. She also worked on improving train lines in South Wales.
She left this role in 2012 after a government reshuffle. She was replaced by another MP.
Standing Up for Her Area: HS2
Cheryl Gillan was very against the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway project. This project planned to build a new fast train line. The proposed route went through her constituency.
She believed the project would cause many problems for her local area. She said it would "threaten the quality of our lives." She even said she would go against her party's decision to stop it.
Despite her strong opposition, the government decided to go ahead with HS2. She remained loyal to her party and government.
Later Political Work
In 2018, she was given a special honour. She was made a Dame. This is a high award given for public service.
In 2019, she became an acting chair of the 1922 Committee. This is a group of Conservative MPs. She held this role for a few months.
Personal Life and Legacy
Cheryl Gillan was married to John Coates Leeming. He passed away in 2019. She enjoyed singing, gardening, and playing golf. She also kept chickens.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked to help MPs vote from home. This was especially important as she became ill.
Cheryl Gillan died from cancer in April 2021, at age 68. Many people in Parliament paid tribute to her. Her former seat was later won by Sarah Green.
