GIGGLESWICK School's headmaster, Tony Millard, could be embarking on a new career at Westminster.

For Mr Millard has been selected as the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Wirral South constituency and when the next General Election is called, he will be fighting for the Labour-held seat.

Mr Millard, 52, came to Giggleswick seven years ago and under his headship there have been many changes - not least the works to the famous Chapel roof and the building of a new dining hall.

It is still unclear whether Mr Millard will leave Giggleswick when the election is called, or wait until the result of the vote is known.

"It is an obvious thing which the governors and I will have to address," said Mr Millard.

The 52-year-old is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Oxford University. He has taught in Zambia and came to Giggleswick from Wycliffe College, where he was head.

As a student he was an apprentice with Tube Investments PLC and was also a stagiaire - a post graduate trainee - with the European Commission in Brussels.

Europe and the economy remain two of his principal interests, along with constitutional affairs and defence, and, obviously, education.

"I have always been fascinated with politics since I was a child. Economics, politics and history have been the three subjects that I have taught and been totally involved in. As a headteacher I have always kept my own party politics to myself," he told the Herald.

"As a candidate I was looking for a constituency in the North West, and the constituency association of Wirral South voted to have me as their candidate.

"Wirral South is geographically very compact. It is very much a cross section of economic, political and social groupings. There is new industry, old industry and agriculture. Wirral has very good grammar schools and until the result of the recent vote in Ripon was known, there was a lot of anxiety."

The constituency was formed in 1982 and was held by Conservative Barry Porter for 14 years until his death in 1996. Labour won the seat in a by-election in February 1997 and held on to it at the General Election. The current MP is Ben Chapman.

Mr Millard has played a prominent role in the Headmaster and Headmistresses Conference and is chairman of the Boarding Schools Association.

His wife, Lesley, sits as a magistrate at Skipton and is a professional tennis coach. The couple have a son and three daughters and they enjoy walking.

* The new headmaster of Catteral Hall, Giggleswick, is Ross Hunter, who was head of geography and housemaster for 13 years at Aiglon College, Switzerland, which Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are due to attend.

Mr Hunter will take up his post at the start of the autumn term with his wife Sue, who is a games and physical education teacher. She will also have a full role at Catteral in both teaching and pastoral work.

They have two children, Catherine and Douglas. Catherine is a boarder in Carr House in the Senior School.

Mr Hunter, who is known for his enthusiasm and commitment, spent 13 years at Aiglon before returning to England as head of St Anne's School, Windermere.

He graduated from St. Catherine's College, Cambridge in geography and the governors believe he will bring a wealth of experience to Catteral.

The previous head, Martin Morris, has been appointed head of Kingham Hill School.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.