MEMORIES of a Worcestershire MP’s 36 years in Parliament were recounted at a special retirement dinner.

Sir Michael Spicer was joined by 165 guests at the Abbey Hotel, Malvern, with the West Worcestershire MP set to stand down at the general election.

Special guest Sir Peter Tapsell, the MP for Louth and Horncastle, retold how Sir Michael led the opposition to the Maastricht Treaty which paved the way for the common currency and arguably resulted in Britain staying out of the Euro. Sir Peter also recounted the time when the IRA blew up the Royal Hotel in Brighton during the Conservative Party conference in 1984 – a time when Sir Michael was deputy chairman of the party.

Also adding her tribute was Harriett Baldwin, the Conservative candidate for Sir Michael’s seat.

She said she valued the support he had given her since her selection in 2006.

Sir Michael was presented with an engraved silver salver.

PICTURE CAPTION: DINNER: From left: Sir Peter Tapsell MP; Lady Spicer; Sir Michael Spicer MP; Roy Veal, president of West Worcestershire Conservative Association, and Harriett Baldwin, Conservative candidate, West Worcestershire.