I doubt the retirement of a long time Tory MP would normally draw my interest BUT the retirement at the next General Election of MP Richard Ottaway is very interesting ot me!
Here is the article at ConservativeHome with this highlight:
Richard Ottaway, the Member of Parliament for Croydon South since 1992 (previously Nottingham North 1983-7), has announced his intention to stand down at the next general election. * * * After the 2010 election, Mr Ottaway, a former Royal Navy officer, unsuccessfully stood against Graham Brady for the Chairmanship of the 1922 Committee, but soon after became the first elected chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Mr Ottaway served as a Parliamentary Private Secretary during the Thatcher and Major years, and had been the Vice Chairman of the ’22 since 2005.
This retirement is interesting because my great-great grandfather, born 1840 and died 1935, was Solomon OTTAWAY. That is a very unusual last name but somewhat common in Onslow County NC. (BTW, Solomon was a veteran of the War of Northern Aggression, allegedly enlisting as a drummer boy but I am not sure he was anything higher than a private.)
So I salute the maybe distant relative and hope maybe MP Ottaway will email me and discuss ancestors! All the best in an honorable retirement. You also got to serve PM Thatcher! I can be reached at ssanders at varight.com.
