Memorial Service James Hughes-onslow

1929–2016

Because he was a young prime minister, Sir John Major now finds that many of his older colleagues are knocking on the door of that great Cabinet Room in the sky – and he is invited to pay tribute to them in the pulpit in St Margaret’s Westminster. Patrick Mayhew, former Solicitor-General, Attorney General and Northern Ireland Secretary, was the latest recipient.

Sir John began by telling how Mayhew gave him his first step on the ladder. ‘Thirty-five years ago, as a minister in the Home Office, [Paddy] beckoned me into a corner of the voting lobby in the Commons and invited me to become his PPS. We were standing very close together to avoid being overheard, when he noticed my sudden wince of pain. He was immediately solicitous. “What’s wrong? Are you ill? Is there anything I can do?”

‘ “Just one thing, Paddy,” I said. “You are standing on my foot.” ’

Later, as PM, Sir John gave Mayhew his final job in the Cabinet (1992–97), initiating the peace process in Northern Ireland. ‘Paddy was a man of passion, as all good Irishmen should be,’ he said, describing him as a patrician Irishman who once turned up for a Downing Street do in a dinner jacket, the wrong trousers and carpet slippers. ‘I thought he was a most perfect Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

‘There are many unsung heroes in the peace process and Jean Mayhew is definitely one of them,’ Major went on, paying tribute to his widow. ‘Paddy and Jean were a true double act. Jean, Paddy was so proud of all that you did.’

Barney Mayhew, one of their four sons, also gave a eulogy. He described how his father, as a new MP, once came a cropper after a difficult constituency meeting. ‘In the pitch dark, while looking for his car, he fell chest deep into a water-filled ditch. Each time he tried to climb out, the headlights of another departing car swept past, forcing him to duck back down into the mud to avoid being spotted. When he got home, Mum opened the door to a bedraggled democrat. He stood there and said, “I told you it was going to be tough.” ’

‘Dad had always wanted the job of Northern Ireland Secretary,’ Barney continued. When offered it, he said two things to the Prime Minister: first, “Thank you”, and then, “Whoopee!”. He was thrilled when, after his time, peace eventually came to Northern Ireland.’

The service ended with the traditional Irish melody ‘Danny Boy’.