Wesminster Abbey to honour Yorkshire-born ex-premier

Harold Wilson, the son of a chemist and a teacher who at the age 31 became the 20th century’s youngest Cabinet minister, will join a long line of former prime ministers who have been buried or given a memorial stone in Westminster Abbey.

Wilson, who died in 1995 aged 79, won four general elections and was Labour prime minister from 1964 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1976.

The Huddersfield-born Labour politician was elected in 1945 for Ormskirk but was later the member for Huyton.

He later became Lord Wilson of Rievaulx. He left the Commons in 1983 and died in 1995 aged 79.

Under his leadership, his government supported backbench MPs in liberalising laws on censorship, divorce, abortion and homosexuality and he abolished the death penalty in 1965.

The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, said: “Almost every UK prime minister from the first half of the 20th century is buried or memorialised in the abbey but so far none who held office since 1955.

“As part of our continuing commitment to our neighbours in the Palace of Westminster and Whitehall, it is appropriate for the abbey, where a memorial service for Lord Wilson was held in July 1995, to memorialise him alongside his distinguished predecessors.

“We have announced memorials to other prime ministers from the latter half of the 20th century, but Lord Wilson’s, whose widow is happily still with us, will be installed first.”

Lord Wilson’s daughter-in-law Joy Crispin Wilson said: “The Lady Wilson of Rievaulx and her family are very pleased that a memorial stone to her late husband is to be placed on the floor of Westminster Abbey in the near future.”

The memorial stone to Lord Wilson will be dedicated in 2013.

Details of the design and location will be announced later.

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