Did You Know?

[bhg481]

Yesterday we visited Edward Heath's house, Arundells, in Salisbury. On the wall was a resume of his military career pointing out that he was "Master Gunner within the Tower" for three years and, as such, was responsible for the firing of the Royal Salutes to mark the accession and coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952 and 1953.

[Sqad]

No.

[237SJ]

I remember the lovely glass ornament on the window sill that was based on yacht sails. We looked at the guest list for one of his dinners and the volunteer steward said she couldn't understand why there no women included. Did make us laugh.

[bhg481]

237 - you didn't expect to find Margaret Thatcher there, did you?

Incidentally, we thought it was a nice gesture to have Mary Wilson stay with him after (his rival) Harold's death "to keep her out of the public eye".

[meaghan72]

Why?

[meaghan72]

I meant why was it funny he had no women guests?

[bednobs]

Because he was gay?

[bhg481]

I never heard of him being accused of being gay, even though he never married or even sought the company of women. In those days, of course, it was illegal, so might have made it difficult to hold the post of PM.

[237SJ]

I remember the steward saying that she thought he was a misogynist. I don't think so love, have another go ..

[jno]

"confirmed bachelor" was code for "gay" in those days but not every bachelor was gay. (Those who were, sometimes got married to deter suspicion - Rock Hudson, for instance.) So nobody knows if Heath was or not.

An attestation here from er, Jonathan King

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-i-don-t-believe-that-ted-heath-was-gay-