John Major

:This article is about the British politician. For the 15th-century Scottish philosopher called John Major, see John Mair. For the Canadian politician, see John C. Major.

Early life

John Major was born on 29 March 1943, the son of Tom Major-Ball, a travelling showman. He was christened John Roy Major but only the name John is shown on his birth certificate. He used the middle name Roy until the early 1980s.

Related Topics:
29 March - 1943 - 1980s

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He was born at the St Helier Hospital, Carshalton in the wealthy Worcester Park area of Sutton and he grew up in the much poorer Brixton area where the family were forced to move after the failure of his father's business. He had an undistinguished education at Rutlish Grammar School and left school at 16. He applied to become a bus conductor, but his application was rejected, allegedly because of poor arithmetic. His first job was as a clerk in an insurance brokerage firm in 1959, and, for a time, he manufactured gnomes with his brother, Terry Major-Ball. He eventually went to work as an executive at Standard Chartered Bank in May 1965 where he rose quickly through the ranks, before leaving on his election to Parliament in 1979. He is an Associate of the Institute of Bankers.

Related Topics:
St Helier - Carshalton - Worcester Park - Sutton - Brixton - Rutlish Grammar School - 1959 - Gnome - Terry Major-Ball - Standard Chartered Bank - 1965 - Parliament - 1979 - Institute of Bankers

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He married Norma Wagstaff (now Lady Major, DBE) on 3 October 1970. They have a son (James Major) and a daughter (Elizabeth Major).

Related Topics:
Norma Wagstaff - 3 October - 1970 - James Major - Elizabeth Major

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