Roger Pincham

Roger Pincham (born October 1935) is a former British Liberal Party politician.

Pincham studied at Wimbledon Park School and Kingston Grammar School before becoming a stockbroker. He stood as the Liberal Party candidate for Leominster at each election from 1970 to 1983,^[1][2] coming only 579 votes, less than 2% away from victory in October 1974. Leominster has otherwise been a safe Conservative seat with no other Liberal candidate since 1906 polling within 10% of the Tory vote.^[3] In a 2001 article in Liberator^[4] Roger Pincham is included in an informal shortlist of four most compelling Liberal orators of the latter decades of the 20th century.

In 1974, Pincham founded the Gladstone Club which meets at the NLC and continues to enjoy an active membership.^[5] In connection with which he contributed the biography of Gladstone for the Liberal Democrat History Group site ^[6] From 1975 until 2007, he was Chair of the Board of Governors of St James Independent Schools,^[7] which are closely linked with the School of Economic Science.

Pincham served as Chairman of the Liberal Party from 1979 to 1982.^[6] In 1985, he became Chairman of the Lloyd George Society.^[8] Although less politically active, he continues to support the Liberal Democrats, successors of the Liberal Party.^[3]

References

1. '^ The Times Guide to the House of Commons, May 1979, p.155
2. ^ UK General Election results June 1983
3. ^ ^{a b} Leominster's most successful candidate of the last century helps get General Election 2010 off to a flying start!", North Herefordshire Liberal Democrats, 8 April 2010
4. ^ Great Liberal Speeches, Stewart Rayment, Liberator Issue 277 October 2001, p22
5. ^ http://www.gladstoneclub.org, The Gladstone Club
6. ^ ^{a b} "Biography of William Ewart Gladstone", Liberal Democrat History Group
7. ^ "FOUNDER'S DAY - OFFICIAL OPENING OF 6th FORM SEMINAR ROOMS", St James Independent School for Senior Boys
8. ^ Russell Deacon, LIBERAL WEEKEND SCHOOL TURNS INTO THE LLOYD GEORGE SOCIETY, Lloyd George Society