Edward Richard George Heath (known as Ted) was born on 9th July 1916 at Broadstairs in Kent, the son of William George Heath and Edith Anne (nee Pantony). His father was a carpenter who made air frames for Vickers during the First World War, and his mother was a lady’s maid. Ted’s brother John was born four years later.
Ted was educated at Chatham House Grammar School for Boys at Ramsgate in Kent and then attended Balliol College, Oxford, graduating in 1939 with a B A in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He was a talented musician who won an organ scholarship whilst at Oxford. He won a scholarship to Gray’s Inn to study to be a barrister, but then war broke out.
In March 1941 he was given an emergency commission into the Royal Artillery and the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He initially served with heavy anti-aircraft guns around the Liverpool area, including in the Daresbury and Alvanley areas. He attained the rank of Captain then Major and finally Lieutenant Colonel before being demobbed in 1946. He had taken part in the Normandy landings in 1944.
After the war Ted joined the Civil Service, in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, but resigned in 1947 to be the prospective parliamentary candidate for Bexley, the seat he held as an MP from 1950 until 2001. He was the leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 until 1975 and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 until 1974. He was made a knight of the Garter in 1992.
He never married.
In later life, he lived in Salisbury. He enjoyed yachting and classical music.
Ted Heath died on 17th July 2005 aged 89 years. His ashes are interred at Salisbury Cathedral.
