Frederick Corfield

Frederick Corfield was a British Conservative Party politician and British Army officer who served as a Member of Parliament for over fourteen years. He held significant ministerial positions in the government of Edward Heath, notably as Minister of Aviation and later as Minister of State for Trade. His career was marked by a pragmatic approach to industry and a steadfast commitment to his party's principles.

Early life and education

Frederick Vernon Corfield was born on 1 June 1915, the son of a solicitor from Gloucestershire. He was educated at Marlborough College, a prominent public school in Wiltshire. Following his schooling, he pursued a military career, gaining a commission after training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. His education at these institutions provided the foundation for his subsequent service in the British Army and his entry into public life.

Military service

Corfield was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1935. During the Second World War, he saw extensive active service, including in the North African Campaign and the Italian Campaign. He was mentioned in despatches for his conduct. After the war, he remained in the army, serving in the British Army of the Rhine and reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He retired from active military duty in 1948 but maintained a connection through the Territorial Army.

Political career

Corfield entered politics, contesting the Bristol South constituency for the Conservatives in the 1955 general election but was unsuccessful. He was elected as the MP for South Gloucestershire in the 1959 general election, defeating the sitting Labour minister Anthony Crosland. He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of Power, Richard Wood. A reliable backbencher, his expertise often focused on industrial and economic matters.

Ministerial roles

Following the 1970 Conservative victory, Prime Minister Edward Heath appointed Corfield as Minister of Aviation. In this role, he oversaw the controversial passage of the Civil Aviation Act 1971, which created the Civil Aviation Authority and the public corporation British Airways. In a 1972 reshuffle, he was moved to the Department of Trade and Industry as Minister of State for Trade. Here, he was involved in policies responding to the 1973 oil crisis and the turbulent industrial relations of the period, including the Three-Day Week.

Later life and death

Corfield lost his seat in the February 1974 general election, which ended the Heath ministry. He did not return to the House of Commons and largely retired from frontline public life. He remained active in local Conservative associations in Gloucestershire. Frederick Corfield died on 19 May 2005 at the age of 89. His career exemplified the trajectory of a dedicated parliamentarian who transitioned from military service to significant, if sometimes challenging, ministerial office during a period of major industrial change in the United Kingdom.

Category:1915 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Gloucestershire constituencies Category:Royal Artillery officers Category:British Army personnel of World War II Category:Alumni of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Category:People educated at Marlborough College