HC Deb 18 December 1961 vol 651 cc953-4
Mr. Speaker

I have to acquaint the House that I have received a letter from the Clerk of the House of Commons in the following terms:

"Sir,

I have the honour to inform you that I desire, as from the 31st December, to resign the patent of Clerk of the House of Commons which I have been privileged to hold for the past seven and a half years. Although my acknowledgements must in many cases be retrospective, I cannot lay down my office without expressing to you, Sir, my gratitude for the support and encouragement so generously given to me by yourself, your three immediate predecessors below whom I sat at the Table, and by all the other occupants of the Chair during this period.

To the Members of all parties in the twelve Parliaments which I have known, and to my colleagues past and present of all ranks and grades in the service of the House, I tender my warmest thanks for the many marks of courtesy, kindness and consideration which they have shown me.

I shall never forget the warm welcome which, as a servant of the House of Commons, I received from the Members and officials of many Parliaments of the Commonwealth.

After forty-two years of which nearly twenty-five have been spent at the Table, it is with great regret that I leave the service of the House, but I am proud that my working life has been passed in the service of parliamentary democracy of which the House of Commons stands as model to the world.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

EDWARD FELLOWES."

Hon. Members

Hear, hear.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Iain Macleod)

I am sure that all of us will have heard with sincere regret of the decision of the Clerk of the House. I shall not add anything more now, because there will be an opportunity of expressing our thanks to him tomorrow, when a Motion will come before the House.

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  1. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (SUPPLY) 19 words