Cheryl Gillan

Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan was born in Llandaff, a district of Cardiff, on 21 April 1952. Her father, Major Adam Mitchell Gillan, was a former British Army officer and a director of a steel company, while her mother, Mona Elsie Freeman, was a Wren. She was brought up in South Wales and her family farms near Usk. She was educated at Elm Tree House and Norfolk House primary schools in Cardiff before her family left Wales when she was aged 11. Gillan attended the independent Cheltenham Ladies' College and the College of Law. She was a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. == Business career ==

Gillan joined the International Management Group in 1977 before becoming a director with the British Film Year in 1984. == Political career ==

Gillan was chairman of the Bow Group from 1987 to 1988. and responsible for introducing the Autism Act 2009 through a Private Member's Bill. Shadow Welsh Secretary (2005–2010) Gillan was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet in December 2005 as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales. She was initially opposed to the creation of the National Assembly for Wales, saying that there was not a large enough majority in favour of it in the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum. Welsh Secretary (2010–2012) Gillan was appointed by David Cameron as Secretary of State for Wales in the new coalition government formed from the 2010 general election. She was appointed a Privy Councillor on 13 May 2010. • Parliamentary Private Secretary: Glyn Davies MP • Special adviser: Richard Hazlewood Welsh-related government policy decisions taken during Gillan's term in the Wales Office included: • the running of the 2011 Welsh devolution referendum on direct law-making powers for the Assembly; • setting up of the Silk Commission on future Welsh devolution; • rail electrification of the South Wales Main Line branch of the Great Western Main Line; • reduction of S4C funding; • cancellation of the plan to centralise military training at MOD St Athan. In May 2012, Gillan unveiled a Wales Office green paper that proposed to cut the number of constituency Assembly members (AMs) from 40 to 30, with another 30 coming from regional lists. The Welsh Government opposed this idea, and it was reported that Conservative AMs preferred the status quo. She was replaced by David Jones who had been Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales; there had been pressure from Welsh Conservative MPs, AMs and activists for her successor to be an MP from a Welsh constituency. When campaigning for re-election, Gillan said that HS2 would be "a lot more than just the blight on the properties nearby... the implications for the area will be absolutely phenomenal". She also described HS2 as a project that would "threaten the quality of our lives – not just now but for generations to come" and stated that she "would defy the party whip – be very, very sure of that". On 12 January 2012, Secretary of State for Transport Justine Greening confirmed in a House of Commons statement that HS2 would go ahead and, in responding to questions, stated that it was her understanding that "the Welsh Secretary is already on side ... I thoroughly agree with her that we have ended up with the right line, with the right mitigation". 1922 Committee , 2017 In May 2019, Gillan and Charles Walker became acting chairs of the 1922 Committee after Graham Brady resigned from the role while mulling a Conservative leadership bid. They stood down when Brady returned to the position in September of that year. == Expenses ==

In 2009, Gillan was criticised for her expenses claims. The Daily Telegraph revealed she had claimed for dog food on her second home allowance. Gillan also claimed £305.50 to cure "noise problems" with her boiler. When questioned, Gillan said the boiler had broken down, and the claim was within the rules. Gillan wrote to the Bucks Free Press to complain that "insinuating language" had been used. Following a review of MPs expenses by Sir Thomas Legg, Gillan was also found to have claimed £1,884 more than her mortgage bill was actually worth. The mortgage was on a second home in Battersea, even though, at the time, she had a home in her constituency, which lies on the London Underground network. Gillan was ordered to repay the money. On 30 March 2010, it was announced that future MPs from Gillan's constituency would not be allowed to claim for a second home after the 2010 election. == Personal life ==

Gillan was married to John Coates "Jack" Leeming from 1985 until his death, aged 91, on 23 March 2019. Her interests included singing (she was a member of the Parliamentary Choir), gardening, golf and keeping chickens. She was a member of the Royal Automobile Club. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gillan became one of many MPs who participated virtually and pushed for reforms to allow electronic voting for members unable to sit in the chamber, especially when she became too ill to attend due to endometrial cancer. She died in an Esher hospital on 4 April 2021, at the age of 68. Tributes were paid to her in the House of Commons on 13 April. In the subsequent by-election held on 17 June, her former seat was gained by Sarah Green of the Liberal Democrats. == References ==