Terry Dicks facts for kids

Terence Patrick "Phil" Dicks (born March 17, 1937 – died June 17, 2020) was a British politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hayes and Harlington. He held this position from 1983 until he retired in 1997. Before that, he tried to become an MP for Bristol South in 1979 but was not successful. He was sometimes called "Phil."

Terry Dicks: Early Life and Education

Terry Dicks was born in Bristol, England, on March 17, 1937. He was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement. In his early career, he worked as a clerk at a company called Imperial Tobacco until 1959.

He went to two well-known universities. He studied at the University of Oxford and earned a diploma in economics. He also attended the London School of Economics. There, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics.

Terry Dicks' Political Career

Terry Dicks had a long career in politics. He served in local government and later in the national Parliament. He was known for his strong views.

Before Becoming an MP

Dicks was first elected to the Hillingdon Borough Council in 1974. This is a local government body. In 1978, he faced some criticism. This was because of how he treated different families who had recently moved to the UK.

He was temporarily removed from his position in 1982. This happened when the Greater London Council disagreed with comments he made. These comments were about money owed by a housing group.

In 1979, Dicks was chosen to run for Parliament in Bristol South. However, he lost that election to the Labour Party candidate.

Later in his career, after leaving Parliament, he continued in local politics. From 1999 to 2009, he was a member of the Surrey County Council. He represented the town of Addlestone. Starting in 2011, he also served as a local councillor for Chertsey South and Row Town.

As a Member of Parliament

Terry Dicks became the MP for Hayes and Harlington in 1983. He took over from the previous MP, Neville Sandelson. He was known for his very traditional and conservative political views.

He sometimes caused debate with his public statements. For example, he strongly disagreed with the idea of the government funding art. During a debate in 1990, another MP joked about his presence in Parliament.

In another discussion about art funding, his comments led to a heated exchange. Another Conservative MP, Patrick Cormack, expressed strong disapproval of Dicks' remarks.

Terry Dicks was also a member of the Conservative Family Campaign. He often spoke out against public health campaigns about HIV/AIDS in the 1980s. This was when the disease was first becoming widely known.

Terry Dicks: Personal Life

Terry Dicks had cerebral palsy. He sometimes referred to his condition when speaking in the House of Commons.

He was married twice and had four children. He had three daughters and one son. Terry Dicks passed away on June 17, 2020, at the age of 83.