North East Herts Conservatives held a surprise 20th Anniversary Party for MP Oliver Heald at The Cloisters in Letchworth Garden City last Friday.

One hundred and thirty local Conservatives packed into the Letchworth landmark to celebrate Oliver’s twenty years. He was elected in the 1992 General Election.

Oliver had not been told about the event and thought he was attending a civic function and was amazed to find The Cloisters packed with all of his old friends including neighbouring MP, Rt Hon Peter Lilley, who gave the speech.

Oliver’s Constituency Chairmen and Agents also spoke at the occasion.

His Ministerial job in the Social Security Department in the 1990s was at the time when Peter Lilley was Secretary of State and he was able to reminisce about those times. They were both Parliamentary Private Secretaries to William Waldegrave MP at one time and he also told some anecdotes about that. Oliver was presented with an i-pod by Association President Hugh Trenchard.

Oliver was delighted with his gift and he thanked his office staff and everyone in the Conservative Party who has supported him so strongly over many years.