Richard Needham
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Richard Francis Needham, 6th Earl of Kilmorey, Knight, PC (b. January 29, 1942) usually known as Sir Richard Needham is a former Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. Prior to 1977 he used the courtesy title of Viscount Newry and Mourne.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for the safe Labour seat of Pontefract and Castleford in 1974
At the 1979 general election, Needham was returned as Member of Parliament for Chippenham in Wiltshire. That constituency was abolished for the 1983 general election, when he was returned to the House of Commons for the new Wiltshire North constituency. He held the seat until he retired from Parliament at the 1997 general election.
He served as a minister for Northern Ireland 1985-1992 and Minister of State for Trade 1992-1995, instrumental in transforming Northern Ireland's economic base and the UK's export strategy under Michael Heseltine.
Needham now works for Dyson. He has written two books: Honourable Member and Battling for Peace: Northern Ireland’s Longest-Serving British Minister (1999); an account of his years in Northern Ireland and his contribution to peace.
The Needham estate, known as Mourne Park, is near Kilkeel in County Down in Northern Ireland but the title and estate were separated when the fifth Earl inherited the title but opted to live in England. It is now owned by other family members. He maintains close links with Northern Ireland. The Mourne Park estate was put up for sale by Needham's cousins in 2008 for £10 million
In 1965, he married Sigrid Thiessen-Gairtner, they have three children:
- Robert Needham, Viscount Newry and Mourne (b. 1966)
- Hon. Andrew Needham (b. 1969)
- Lady Christina Needham (b. 1977)
Needham holds the title Earl of Kilmorey, in the Peerage of Ireland, but generally chooses not to use this.
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| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Daniel Awdry |
Member of Parliament for Chippenham 1979–1983 |
Succeeded by (constituency abolished) |
| Preceded by (new constituency) |
Member of Parliament for Wiltshire North 1983–1997 |
Succeeded by James Gray |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by Patrick Needham |
Earl of Kilmorey 1977 – present |
Incumbent |
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