Theresa (Brasier) May MP

Ancestors

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Biography

Theresa was born in 1956, the only child of Hubert Brasier (1917-1981) and Zaidee Mary (Barnes) Brasier (1928-1982). ^[1] At the time of her birth her parents were living in Eastbourne, Sussex where her father was a hospital chaplain.

The family then relocated to Oxfordshire where Theresa's father worked as a Church of England clergyman. During her early childhood the family lived in Heythrop then in 1970 her father was appointed vicar of St Mary's in Wheatley and Theresa spent her teenage years living at the Wheatley vicarage. She was educated at Holton Park Girls' Grammar School (a state school which during her time there became Wheatley Park Comprehensive School). ^[2]

Theresa read Geography at St Hugh's College, Oxford and was awarded a BA in 1977. ^[3] After graduation Theresa worked in the finance industry, first at the Bank of England and then at the Association for Payment Clearing Services.

Theresa married husband Philip in 1980 at her father's church in Wheatley. ^{[4] [5]} Sadly both her parents were to die within a couple of years of her marriage. Her father died in 1981 in a car accident and her mother the following year of multiple sclerosis.

Theresa's political career began as a councillor in the London Borough of Merton from 1986. She then made 2 unsuccessful attempts to enter national politics in the general elections of 1992 and 1994, as a candidate for the Conservative Party. She was then successfully returned as Member of Parliament for Maidenhead in 1997. Theresa soon rose to take on a number of senior roles in opposition and in government. Her political roles are detailed more fully in other sources but include serving as Home Secretary from 2010-2016 and as Prime Minister from 2016-2019. She was only the 2nd woman to serve the UK as Prime Minister (after Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013)).

Theresa served as Prime Minister during a turbulent time following a national referendum in which a majority of those who voted expressed a wish for the UK to leave the European Union. Theresa triggered the process to begin withdrawal from the European Union (article 50) in March 2017. She and her team then negotiated the terms of withdrawal from the EU but her draft withdrawal agreement was rejected three times by Parliament. She resigned as Prime Minister in 2019 and was succeeded by Boris Johnson, remaining in the House of Commons as a backbench MP.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008"
   Citing Birth Registration, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
   FamilySearch (accessed 15 May 2022)
   Theresa M Brasier birth Oct-Nov-Dec 1956 in Eastbourne.
2. ↑ Notable alumni of Wheatley Park School
3. ↑ Statement from St Hugh's on Theresa May's appointment as Prime Minister
4. ↑ Marriage Registration: "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005"
   Citing 1980, quarter 3, vol. 20, p. 2925, Bullingdon, Oxfordshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
   FamilySearch (accessed 15 May 2022)
   Theresa M Brasier marriage to Philip J May Jul-Aug-Sep 1980 in Bullingdon.
5. ↑ Wedding photo at Wheatley Village Archive

See also:

• Wikipedia: Theresa May
• Blog post on Theresa May's family history at FindMyPast