Sir Peter Maudslay Hordern, DL, PC 1929-204

 Sir Peter Maudslay Hordern, DL, PC, who died on his 95th birthday, 18 April, 2024, was a former Conservative MP, a mainstay of the back benches for over 30 years, and a scion of that landed gentry family.

He was born 18 April, 1929,  elder son of Charles Hubert Hordern (1896-1974), and his wife the former Dorothy Donovan, and a grandson of the Rt. Rev. Hugh Maudslay Hordern (1868-1949), sometime Bishop of Lewes.

He was educated at Geelong Grammar School, Australia and Christ Church, Oxford. He served with the 60th Rifles from 1947 to 1949, joining the regiment of his father and great-uncle, Brig. General Gwyn Venables Hordern CB, CMG, JP. He then became a Member of the Stock Exchange.

Hordern served as Tory MP for Horsham from 1964 to 1974, for Horsham and Crawley from 1974 to 1983 and for Horsham once again from 1983 to 1997. He was sworn of the Privy Council 1993. He served as a deputy lieutenant for West Sussex.

Hordern was a member of the Public Accounts Committee from 1970 to 1987, Chairman of the Finance Committee from 1970 to 1972 and Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission from 1988 to 1997. He was appointed to the Executive of the 1922 Committee in 1967, later becoming Secretary of the 1922 Committee and Chairman of the Conservative backbench Committee on Europe.

Sir Peter was appointed a director of Petrofina UK PLC in 1973 and chairman in 1987. He was appointed a director of F&C Smaller Companies Investment Trust, plc in 1978, and as chairman in 1986. He was appointed a director of TR Technology Investment Trust in 1985 (formerly Atlas Electric and General Trust). In 1982 he was appointed a consultant to Fisons PLC and a consultant to House of Fraser PLC and Pannell Kerr Forster in 1984.

He married in 1964, Elizabeth Susan Chataway (born 1938), daughter of Sir James Denys Percival Chataway (1892-1953), and sister of Sir Christopher Chataway (1931-2014), the long-distance runner, Conservative politician and broadcaster.

He is survived by Lady Hordern and a son, James (born 1967), who married Lady Elspeth Mackay, daughter of the 4th Earl of Inchcape, and a daughter, Sara (born 1971). He was predeceased by another son, Andrew (1965-2009).

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