Graham McIntosh

McIntosh was born in Brooklyn, Pretoria He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cape Town in 1963, a Secondary Teacher’s Diploma in 1964, and in 1968 at St John’s College, Cambridge, a Master of Arts degree. In 1980 he completed the National Diploma in Valuations and became a Member, now non-practising, of the South African Institute of Valuers (SAIV). == Political career ==

McIntosh’s first memory of politics is a United Party fundraising braai (barbecue) at his parents’ home when he was six. From his teenage years he has been a consistent proponent of liberal democracy. The first political party that McIntosh joined was the Liberal Party in 1963. He began his public political career when he joined the United Party in 1972 whilst farming near Weenen, KZN. At the time, Sir De Villiers Graaff was the leader of the Party. In 1974, at the age of 30, he was elected to Parliament as the MP for Pinetown (UP). In 1977, when the United Party transformed into the New Republic Party, he joined the Progressive Federal Party (PFP), which was led by Colin Eglin. He won the Maritzburg North constituency for the PFP from the sitting National Party MP in 1981, and held the seat until 1987. McIntosh was a constant and nagging voice of opposition to the apartheid government. Many of his speeches in Parliament were littered with calls for "Order" from the Speaker, as his direct manner and blunt and articulate arguments were often deemed outrageous and offensive to the ruling National Party. from 2011 to 2014. He retired on 7 May 2014, doing his last official walk through the corridors of Parliament preceded by a Scottish piper. == Agriculture and conservation ==

He played a key role in the merging in the mid-nineties of the former black agricultural and white agricultural unions of KwaZulu-Natal, and was the last President of the Natal Agricultural Union (NAU) he practised veld (wild pasture) management, as well as protecting wildlife. He represented the Agricultural Union as a member of the board of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (formerly known as the Natal Parks Board) between 1996 and 1998. == Community service ==

In 1971 he helped found the Scripture Union Independent Schools (SUIS) movement in South Africa He built and managed two farm schools (Mkolombe Primary School in the Weenen District and Emngwenya Primary School in the Estcourt District) on his property He was a member of the Board of Governors of Michaelhouse during the period that his three sons attended school there. He was granted a St Michael’s Award by his old school for service to the community. == Personal life ==

In 1971 McIntosh married Susanna (Santie) Jansen van Rensburg (born 1946). Graham and Santie have three sons. == References ==