Ian Gow

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Ian Gow MP
In office 1974 – 1990
Constituency	Eastbourne

Born	11 February 1937
Died	30 July 1990 Hankham, East Sussex
Political party	Conservative Party (UK)
Spouse	Jane Elizabeth Packe
Occupation	Solicitor
Religion	Church of England

Ian Reginald Edward Gow (11 February 1937 – 30 July 1990) was a British Conservative politician and a solicitor. While serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for Eastbourne, he was killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) who planted a bomb under his car seat at his home in Sussex.^[1]

Gow, a staunch Unionist, was a member of Margaret Thatcher's government and a close friend of the Prime Minister. In 1985, he was persuaded by speeches made by his cousin Nicholas Budgen to resign as Minister of State in HM Treasury over the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.^[2]^[3]

On 21 November 1989, Gow made history by becoming the first person to speak in the House of Commons with television cameras present. Gow's speech was packed with his notorious dry humour and was well received by the chamber and television viewers alike.^{[citation needed]}

On 30 July 1990, the IRA planted a bomb under the driver's seat of Gow's Montego car, which was parked in the driveway of his 16th century home in the village of Hankham, near Pevensey in East Sussex. The 4 1/2-lb. Semtex bomb detonated at 08:39, leaving Gow fatally wounded.^[4]^[5]

Gow married Jane Elizabeth Packe in 1966. They had two sons, James and Charles. After his death, his widow was appointed a DBE in 1990 and thus became Dame Jane Gow. In 1994, she re-married; her second spouse is Lt-Col. Michael Whiteley, and she is now known as Dame Jane Whiteley.^[4] She continues to promote the life and work of her first husband.

When the Eastbourne by-election for his seat in the House of Commons was won by the Liberal Democrat David Bellotti, the Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe sent a message to voters saying that the IRA would be "toasting their success".

[edit] References

^ "1990-92: Start of the talks process", BBC Online Network, March 18, 1999.
^ "On this Day, 15 November", BBC News.
^ [A Secret History of the IRA, Ed Moloney, 2002. 9PB) ISBN 0-393-32502-4 (HB) ISBN 0-71-399665-X p.336] p.336
^ ^a ^b "MP's widow outraged by release of terrorists", The Argus, 31 July 2000.
^ Frederick, Painton. "Europe Don't Count Them Out", Time Magazine, 13 August 1990.

This page incorporates information from Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir Charles Stuart Taylor	Member of Parliament for Eastbourne February 1974–1990	Succeeded by David Bellotti

Persondata
NAME	Gow, Ian Reginald
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	British Conservative MP killed by an IRA bomb
DATE OF BIRTH	11 February 1937
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH	30 July 1990
PLACE OF DEATH