Eric Edwards, Baron Chelmer

Eric Edwards was the eldest son of Colonel C E Edwards DSO,[4] a solicitor and Liberal councillor.[3] He attended Felsted School,[2] and gave up his early hope of becoming a diplomat to enter his father's firm of solicitors,[2] after taking an LLB at the University of London.[3] He joined the Essex Yeomanry, which in World War II became 147th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery.[4] He fought in the invasion of France, winning a Military Cross in 1944, and gaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel.[2] He was commanding officer of the Essex Yeomanry in 1945–6.[3]

After the war, he and his father joined the Conservative Party.[3] Having failed to be preselected as Parliamentary candidate for Southend, he thereafter served the party in a voluntary capacity,[2] at the same time adding insurance and property interests to his legal career.[4] With the support of Harold Macmillan, he rose to become deputy party chairman.[2] He was knighted in the 1954 Birthday Honours.[5][2] and had the honour conferred on him by the Queen on 6 July.[6]

With Oliver Poole, he transformed party funding by setting a quota for subscription revenue from each constituency branch,[2][4] with the results published at the annual party conference.[3]

On 31 January 1963 he was created Baron Chelmer, of Margaretting in the County of Essex,[7][1][2] but never gave a maiden speech in the House of Lords,[4] in keeping with the custom for party fund-raisers.[3] He made 13 speeches in all.[8] When Macmillan retired that year, he got The Lord Chelmer to sound out The Earl of Home as his successor, with the party split between Quintin Hogg and Rab Butler.[2][4]

He married Enid Harvey in 1939; they had one son.[2][3]

He was on the board of directors of several companies.[2][3] He enjoyed sailing,[2] especially catamarans,[4] and was involved with music charities.[4]