Cheryl Gillan

Official portrait of Rt Hon Dame Cheryl Gillan MP crop 2

Dame Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan (21 April 1952 – 4 April 2021) was a British Conservative Party politician. She served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chesham and Amersham from 1992 until her death in 2021. Gillan held several ministerial positions during her career and was known for her work on various issues, including autism and High Speed 2 (HS2).

Early Life and Education

Cheryl Gillan was born in Cardiff, Wales. She was educated at Cheltenham Ladies' College, an independent school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. She later attended the University of Law in Guildford, where she trained as a solicitor.

Career Before Politics

Before entering politics, Gillan worked in marketing and public relations. She held positions at several companies, including British Airways and Ernst & Young.

Parliamentary Career

Gillan was first elected to Parliament in the 1992 general election, representing Chesham and Amersham. She succeeded Ian Gilmour, who had retired.

Ministerial Roles

In 1995, Gillan was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment by John Major. She later served as the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales from 2005 to 2010. Following the 2010 general election, she was appointed Secretary of State for Wales by David Cameron, a position she held until 2012.

High Speed 2 (HS2)

Gillan was a vocal opponent of the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project, which proposed a new high-speed railway line between London and the West Midlands. She argued that the project would have a detrimental impact on her constituency and the Chiltern Hills.

Autism Advocacy

Gillan was a strong advocate for autism awareness and support. She introduced the Autism Act 2009, the first disability-specific law in England, which aimed to improve services for adults with autism.

Personal Life

Gillan was married to John Coates, a former director of the Institute of Directors. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2018 New Year Honours for political and public service.

Death

Cheryl Gillan passed away on 4 April 2021 after a long illness. Her death was widely mourned across the political spectrum.

Legacy

Gillan is remembered for her dedication to her constituents and her work on autism and other social issues. Her contributions to British politics and public service have left a lasting impact.

See Also

• Conservative Party (UK)
• List of MPs elected in the 1992 United Kingdom general election
• List of female members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom