Husband to the UK’s first female Prime Minister Sir Dennis used to say that he didn’t like ice in his drinks because it diluted the alcohol! In January 2003 Sir Dennis under went heart surgery. He left hospital 11 days later with the doctors calling the operation a complete success. Dennis’s daughter put his quick recovery down to “copious gin drinking”.

He died on the 26th June 2003 at the ripe old age of 88. Who says heavy drinking lowers life expectancy! Sir Dennis will be remembered around the Houses of Parliament as an astute Tory who liked both his drinks and his conservatism undiluted.