Background
SPENCER, Derek Harold was born on March 31, 1936. Parents: Thomas Harold Spencer and Gladys Spencer (née Heslop).
SPENCER, Derek Harold was born on March 31, 1936. Parents: Thomas Harold Spencer and Gladys Spencer (née Heslop).
Born in Clitheroe, Lancashire, he was educated at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School and Keble College, Oxford.
Education and He served as a Lieutenant in the King"s Own Regiment from 1954-1956. He became a barrister in 1961 and "took silk" as a Queen's Counsel in 1980. He is a Master of the Bench, Gray"s Inn.
He lost the seat back to Labour in 1987.
Then he was elected for the marginal Brighton Pavilion seat in 1992, when he was knighted and appointed Solicitor-General. As Solicitor General he represented the government in several significant cases including Wingrove v United Kingdom (1997) about the application of blasphemy law under the Human Rights Acting 1998.
In 1997, however, he was defeated by Labour"s David Lepper by 13,181 votes on a 13.5% swing. Ex officio Bar Council, 1992–1997
Criminal Bar Association
Northern Ireland Bar
South Eastern Circuit.
C of E
Ex officio Bar Council, 1992–1997
Criminal Bar Association
Northern Ireland Bar
South Eastern Circuit.
Spouse Caroline Alexandra (née Para), 1988. Children: one s.