John Hannam

Sir John Gordon Hannam (born 2 August 1929) is a British Conservative Party politician. He was the last Conservative MP for Exeter to date, from 1970 until his retirement in 1997.

Hannam attended Yeovil Grammar School, where he matriculated. He served in the army, where he completed his National Service in the Middle East, and then in the Territorial Army. A keen sportsman, Hannam played hockey and tennis for Somerset, and was Singles Champion in 1953. Later, in Parliament, he Captained the Lords and Commons Tennis and Ski Teams, and is a Member of the All England Lawn Tennis and International Clubs.

John built up his own business in Tourism and Hotels in the West Country which led him to maintain a strong interest in Small Businesses throughout his Parliamentary career. He was a member of the English Tourist Board and President of the British Motels Federation 1967–1980.

He won the marginal Exeter seat from Gwyneth Dunwoody in 1970 and held it through seven General Elections. Once in Parliament he helped to launch the first backbench Energy and Small Businesses Committees and organized visits to coalmines, oil rigs and nuclear power stations as well as visits to research establishments in France and USA. He was elected Chairman of the Conservative Energy Committee 1974–1992. He was elected Secretary of the Conservative 1922 Committee, a position he held 1987–1997.

John's interest in the Arts stemmed from a love of music and singing (training as a singer and commanding several leading roles in light opera in his 20s) and he was elected Chairman of the Bow Group Arts Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Arts Committee. In 1980 the Government appointed him as a Trustee-Director of the National Theatre, where he was one of the longest serving members.

In 1989 he became a trustee-director of a newly created opera training company named British Youth Opera and took over chairmanship in 1997. Over a thousand young opera singers have developed their professional careers following training by BYO.

He stood down after 27 years in Parliament at the 1997 election. He disassociated himself from the bitter, homophobic campaign of his Conservative successor Adrian Rogers, who was a leading member of the religious right. For this he received praise from his successor, Labour's Ben Bradshaw, during his maiden speech in Parliament.

The other main interest John Hannam developed in his 27 years in Parliament was as a leading campaigner for disability rights and the promotion of legislation to provide opportunities in education, employment, access to buildings and transport for people with disabilities. He was elected an officer of the All Party Disablement Group in 1974 and chairman from 1987 to 1997. He was appointed to the Government Transport Advisory Committee, the Snowdon Working Party on Disability, The Access Committee for England and Deputy Chairman of Rehabilitation International.