Arthur Vere Harvey, Baron Harvey of Prestbury

Who was Arthur Vere Harvey, Baron Harvey of Prestbury?

Air Commodore Arthur Vere Harvey, Baron Harvey of Prestbury CBE was a British Conservative politician, and Member of Parliament for 26 years.

Harvey was educated at Framlingham College, Suffolk and served with the Royal Air Force 1925-30 and during World War II. He was an advisor to the Southern Chinese Air Forces 1932-35 and a Squadron Leader of the Auxiliary Air Force in 1937. He founded the No. 615 Squadron and commanded it in the first years of World War II in France. He was awarded a CBE in 1942. He later became a company chairman and director of several firms.

Harvey was elected as Member of Parliament for Macclesfield in 1945, and held the seat in seven further general elections. He was knighted in 1957. In the Commons, Harvey was chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee from 1966-1970. On 14 October 1969 he was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Macclesfield.

Harvey resigned from the House of Commons in 1971, and was created a life peer as Baron Harvey of Prestbury, of Prestbury in the County Palatine of Chester on 1 May 1971. He was succeeded as MP by fellow-Conservative Nicholas Winterton.

He was married three times.