Lady Margaret Tebbit has died, it was confirmed by Norman Tebbit today

camille.berriman@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 14:44, 21 December 2020

| Updated: 17:09, 21 December 2020

Lady Margaret Tebbit, the wife of Norman Tebbit, died peacefully in Bury St Edmunds the early hours of Saturday, it was announced today.

Lord Tebbit, paying tribute to his wife, said: "Margaret was a nurse and I was a fighter pilot when we met and married in 1956 and we had three children by the time I won the Epping Parliamentary seat in the 1970 General Election. By then we had two sons and a daughter and now we have five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

"In 1984, she was severely injured by the IRA bomb attack on the Grand Hotel, Brighton. Even after two years in hospital she was left substantially paralysed, but she led a remarkably independent life until she contracted Lewy body dementia and required day and night care.

Lord Tebbit and his wife Margaret stand outside the Grand Hotel in Brighton, East Sussex on the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the building by the IRA on October 12, 1984. Picture: PA Images

"She succumbed to that illness and passed away peacefully in the early hours of December 19."

Lady Tebbit was born in 1934 and lived in Bury St Edmunds with Lord Tebbit, who was a member of the Conservative Cabinet from 1981 to 1987 as Secretary of State for Employment, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and chairman of the Conservative Party.

A spokeswoman for St Edmundsbury Cathedral said: "We are so sorry to hear of the death of Lady Tebbit.

"Lord and Lady Tebbit have been much loved members of the cathedral community and we grieve with Lord Tebbit, who has demonstrated such devotion and care to his wife over so many years.

"We look forward to giving thanks for her life at a special service in the cathedral in the New Year."

Bury St Edmunds Suffolk Homepage Camille Berriman