The Cabinet and their exposure to arts

[Chantal Guevara]

Hello,

I've been absent from this site for a while (sorry!) - at the D&D last Saturday, we started discussing how most of the Cabinet studied at Eton and Oxford and the arts exposure they'd likely to have had at both - but has any research actually been done on the individual members and their interest in arts?

I've spent much of today researching this, but I was wondering if there's already research on this out there? Am happy to post my findings.

[Mike Gibb, Operabase]

Hi Chantal,

I approached this area from the opposite angle, by googling for:
"Rt Hon" opera

This returns documents including both the phrase "Rt Hon" and the word "opera".
Substitute the name of the art form of your choice ..

[Chantal Guevara]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for that - I was aiming for general arts-related interests and activities, though my next list will be artform-specific, thanks for the tip!

Here's my findings from last week's research into education, interests, arts interests etc:

------------------------------
Sources: Wikipedia, personal websites, party profiles, Daily Mail's Rich List

David Cameron: Prime Minister
Secondary school: Eton
University: Oxford: tennis, dining clubs
Quoted Edith Piaf during '93 by-election
Cousin: Birmingham born documentary film-maker Joshua Dugdale
Fourth cousin: Cary Elwes (Westley from The Princess Bride)
Wealth est £4m

Nick Clegg: Deputy Prime Minister
Secondary school: Westminster
University: Cambridge, U of Minnesota, College of Europe (Belgium)
Cambridge: active in the student theatre (acted with Helena Bonham Carter, directed by Sam Mendes)
belonged to the "Mozart Promotion" at the College of Europe.
starred in a local pantomime during campaigning for Sheffield Hallam local election
Clegg's wealth is estimated at £1.9m

Theresa May: Minister for Women and Equalities
University: Oxford
interests: walking and cooking
wealth is estimated at £1.6 million

Kenneth Clarke: Secretary of State for Justice
University: Cambridge
Presented several series of jazz programmes on BBC Radio Four
"He is well known for his enjoyment of cigars, jazz, motor racing and classic cars"
His wealth is estimated at over £1m

William Hague: Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secondary school: local comprehensive
University: Oxford & INSEAD
began a career as an author
hosted the 25th anniversary programme for Radio 4 on 'Yes Minister'
shortlisted for the 2008 Orwell Prize for political writing
Vice President of the Friends of the British Library, which provides funding support to the British Library to make new acquisitions.
He learnt the piano in his early 40s and has a keen interest in music.
Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Wealth £2.5m

Vince Cable: Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
University: Cambridge University, PhD at Glasgow
A keen ballroom dancer
Would like to appear on Strictly Come Dancing

Ed Vaizey: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (DCMS/DBIS)
Secondary school: St Paul's School
University: Oxford
board member of the Bush Theatre
a trustee of the Heritage of London Trust
Extensive donations to local charities but none to arts orgs
Mother is a well-known art historian
"At a young age I got taken to galleries and performances, and the house was full of art and books."

Michael Gove: Secretary of State for Education
University: Oxford
Has worked as a journalist & in TV.
He has appeared in one feature film
Gove's wealth is estimated at £1m

Eric Pickles: Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
University: Leeds Poly
has been a radio presenter on local community radio station Phoenix FM

Jeremy Hunt: Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport
Secondary school: Charterhouse (head boy)
University: Oxford
a latin dancer in his spare time
Hunt's wealth is estimated at £4.5m

Boris Johnson
Secondary school: Eton
University: Oxford
Mother is painter Charlotte Fawcett (later Wahl)
He & siblings all journalists
Nominated for a BAFTA in 2004
Patron of King’s Head Theatre

John Penrose: Tourism & Heritage Minister
Secondary school: Ipswich School
University: Cambridge, MBA from Columbia University
Wife is Dido Harding, Chief Exec of TalkTalk

Hugh Robertson: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (DCMS)
Secondary school: King's School Canterbury
Attended Sandhurst
University: Reading
Military '85-'95; investment management till 2001
Has covered sport since 2005

Oliver Letwin: Policy Advisor to PM
Secondary school: Eton
University: Cambridge, PhD from London Business School
Very vocal advocate of cuts
Wealth £1.6m

Francis Maude: Minister for the Cabinet Office, Paymaster General
University: Cambridge
Briefly shadow secretary of state for DCMS in '97
His personal net wealth is estimated at £3m
long career in business and publishing
hobbies are fishing and beekeeping.

-----
Cabinet Rich List
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/election/article-1280554/The-coalit...
Note: very few of the names on the list specify interests or activities, hence their exclusion. And the limited details below.

George Osborne
Secondary school: St Paul's School
University: Oxford: edited uni magazine

Chris Huhne
University: Sorbonne, Oxford
Mother is amateur actress
Wealth £4.6m or £3.5m

Dominic Grieve
Secondary school: Lycée Français
University: Oxford, Central London Poly
Hobbies include architecture, art
Wealth £3m