Background
Bossom is the son of Alfred Charles Bossom (also an Member of Parliament, later ennobled as Lord Bossom) and Emily Bayne.
Bossom is the son of Alfred Charles Bossom (also an Member of Parliament, later ennobled as Lord Bossom) and Emily Bayne.
He was educated at Eton.
Bossom served in the Second World War in The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) in Europe and the Far East and became a Major. He left the Army in 1948. During this time he was also Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance from 1960 to 1961, to the Secretary of State for Air from 1962 to 1964, to the Minister of Defence (Royal Air Force) in 1964 and to the Home Secretary from 1970 to 1972.
Bossom succeeded to the title of 2nd Baronet Bossom, of Maidstone, in the County of Kent on 4 September 1965.
Outside politics he was a director of Vosper from 1973 to 1988, chairman of Europ Assistance Limited (1972-1988), chairman of the Anglo-Eastern Bank, director of the Northern Star Insurance Company, chairman of the British Motor Sports Council (1975-1982), vice-chairman of the British Roads Federation (1975-1982), vice-president (d"honneur) of the Fédération Internationale de l"Automobile, president of IFPA (1969-1981), and Master of the Worshipful Company of Grocers (1979-1980). Bossom was also active in international relations.
He was president of the Anglo-Netherlands Society (1978-1989), Anglo-Belgian Society (1983-1985) and the Iran Society. In the social fields, he was international president of the International Social Service for Refugees (1984-1989), chairman of the Ex-Servicemens War Disabled Help Committee (1973-1988) and vice-chairman Joint Committee of the Red Cross and Street John (1987-1992).
He was Almoner of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem between 1987 and 1993.
Bossom is a patron of the charity Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB).
42nd United Kingdom Parliament. 43rd United Kingdom Parliament. 44th United Kingdom Parliament.
45th United Kingdom Parliament]
His political career began in 1949 when he became a County Councillor in Kent until 1951 and he was subsequently Conservative Member of Parliament for Leominster from 1959 to 1974.