Nicholas was born in 1938. He was educated at Rugby School. He is married to Ann, from 1983 MP for Congleton, and they have two sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren.
Nicholas undertook his National Service from 1957-59 and was commissioned into the 14/20 Kings Hussars serving in Germany.
He was employed as a trainee sales executive at Shell-Mex and BP Ltd from 1959 to 1960 and as a Sales and General Manager of a Construction Machinery Company from 1960-71.
He was a member of the West Midlands Conservative Council from 1967 to 1971 and was a Warwickshire County Councillor representing a coal mining and industrial division in North Warwickshire from 1967-72.
Nicholas is a keen all-round sportsman and was a playing member of the Sutton Coldfield Rugby Football Club and he played for the Combined Services XV in Berlin during his National Service.
Between 1957 and 1959 Mr Winterton served as a 2nd Lt 14/20 Hussars.
Nicholas was employed as a trainee sales executive at Shell-Mex and BP Ltd between 1959 and 1960 and as Sales and General Manager at Stevens and Hodgson Ltd.
Nicholas is involved in numerous sporting musical/theatrical and charitable organisations in his constituency, as well as being President of several youth clubs and served on the National Advisory Committee of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme for 26 years.
Sir Nicholas Winterton's Experience
Nicholas first stood for election to Parliament in 1969 at a by-election in Newcastle-under-Lyme and again in the same constituency at the General Election in 1970. He was elected to Parliament after winning Macclesfield in a by-election in September 1971.
He is currently the senior member of the Speaker’s Panel of Chairmen, and one of the four members of the Panel who takes sittings in Westminster Hall on a regular basis with the honorary title of Deputy Speaker. He was knighted in June 2002 for services to Parliament.
He is heavily involved in the House of Commons and chairs the Procedure Select Committee, having been first elected as Chairman in 1997. He also serves as the senior Conservative member of the Modernisation Select Committee and the Liaison Committee. He is one of two Vice Chairmen of the Conservative Parliamentary Party 1922 Committee.
His interest in overseas matters is shown by his membership of the Executive Committee and Finance & General Purposes Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and of the Executive Committee Inter-Parliamentary Union. He also chairs a number of All Party Groups including Austria, Denmark and the Falkland Islands and is the Joint Chairman of the British-Taiwan Group.
Nicholas was a member of the Social Services Select Committee from 1979-90 and then Chairman of the Health Select Committee from 1990-92. Nicholas’ interest in health matters is highlighted by his position as an Honorary Vice President of the Royal College of Midwives, which recognises his role as Chairman of the Health Select Committee when it produced a ground breaking report into maternity services.
His continuing and active interest in sport has led to a position of Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games Group, and Nicholas was able to visit all the major sporting facilities for the Games in Manchester before the Games took place.
He is a Freeman of the City of London and a Past Upper Bailiff and Member of Court of The Worshipful Company of Weavers and for his many years of support for the St John Ambulance he was installed as a Serving Brother of the Order of St John.