Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler

Brocklebank-Fowler was educated at The Perse School in Cambridge and later studied for a diploma in agriculture at the University of Oxford.[1]

He served his National Service on submarines and later worked on a farm in Kenya. He was also employed by Unilever and as an advertising consultant before his election to Parliament.[1]

Brocklebank-Fowler was married three times. With his first wife, Joan Nowland, whom he married in 1957, he had two sons.[1]

After unsuccessfully contesting West Ham North in 1964, Brocklebank-Fowler entered Parliament as a Conservative at the 1970 general election, representing the constituency of King's Lynn. This seat was abolished at the February 1974 general election, and Brocklebank-Fowler was elected for the new North West Norfolk seat.

In 1981 Brocklebank-Fowler defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), crossing the floor during a parliamentary debate on the budget.[2][3] However, at the 1983 general election the Conservatives regained North West Norfolk with a majority of about 3,000. Brocklebank-Fowler contested the seat again at the 1987 general election, but lost by a much wider margin.

After the SDP's merger with the Liberal Party to form the Liberal Democrats, Brocklebank-Fowler contested the South Norfolk constituency at the 1992 general election, but once again finished second. In 1996 he joined the Labour Party, saying that he was prompted by Tony Blair's "determination to pursue constitutional reform, efficient economic management, and fairer social provision which alone can restore One Nation".[4]

Brocklebank-Fowler later moved to Thurso, Scotland, where he restored a fishery on the Forss Water.[1]

• Who's Who 2003 (A&C Black Ltd.)

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler