Bowen Wells
Petrie Bowen Wells (born 4 August 1935), known as Bowen Wells, is a retired British Conservative Party politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Hertford and Stevenage then Hertford and Stortford from 1979 until 2001. He was also Chair of the International Development Select Committee from 1997 until 2001.
Bowen Wells | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the International Development Select Committee | |
| In office 17 July 1997 – 18 July 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Tony Baldry |
| Lord Commissioner of the Treasury | |
| In office 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Prime Minister | John Major |
| Preceded by | Timothy Wood |
| Succeeded by | John McFall |
| Member of Parliament for Hertford and Stortford Hertford and Stevenage (1979-1983) | |
| In office 3 May 1979 – 14 May 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Shirley Williams |
| Succeeded by | Mark Prisk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 August 1935 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
Education
Wells was educated at St Paul's School in London, the University of Exeter, and Regent Street Polytechnic.
Member of Parliament
Wells was first elected in the 1979 general election as MP for Hertford and Stevenage, defeating Labour's Shirley Williams. After boundary changes in the 1983 general election, he served as MP for Hertford and Stortford until the 2001 general election when he retired.
From 1982 until 1983, Wells served in Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Government as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Minister of State for Employment Michael Alison. He then served twice in John Major's Government; as PPS to Minister of State for Public Transport Roger Freeman from 1992 until 1994, and as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury from 1995 until 1997.
Wells lost his position in government following the Labour victory in the 1997 general election. Soon after, he was made Chair of the newly-formed International Development Select Committee. He remained in the post until his retirement in 2001.
Non-political career
Sub Lieutenant, RNVR, National Service 1954-56
School Master, Colet Court, London 1956-57
Trainee, British Aluminium Company 1957-58
Senior Executive Commonwealth Development Corporation 1961-74
Owner/Manager, Substation Group Services Ltd 1974-79
Personal life
Wells is married with two sons, Adam and Simon Bowen, and resides in the South of England.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Bowen Wells
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Shirley Williams |
Member of Parliament for Hertford and Stevenage 1979 – 1983 |
Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Hertford and Stortford 1983 – 2001 |
Succeeded by Mark Prisk |