Lady Thatcher, Lord Archer, Michael Portillo and other top Tories paid their respects yesterday at a memorial service for former Harwich MP Sir Julian Ridsdale, who died on July 22, aged 89.

More than 250 people crowded into St Mary the Boltons Church, South Kensington, just opposite Sir Julian's family home in The Boltons.

In a tribute, Lord Eden referred to Sir Julian's steadfastness, perseverence and loyalty as a constituency MP and parliamentarian, as well as his fearlessness in putting forward his own beliefs.

"He was one of the first to back Mrs Thatcher for the leadership in 1975, doing so openly and stoutly in a letter to The Times," he said.

Lord Eden said Sir Julian was a builder of bridges and did much on his frequent visits to the Far East, and as a vice-president of the North Atlantic Assembly, to bring East and West and Europe together.

In a second tribute, Sir Paul Newell said Sir Julian was the only British MP to speak Japanese and had led many delegations there.

"He was a torch bearer for Anglo-Japanese relations for six decades", said Sir Paul.

Published Wednesday, September 15, 2004

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