James Allason

Lieutenant Colonel James Harry Allason, (6 September 1912 – 16 June 2011) was a British Conservative Party politician, sportsman, and former military planner who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Hemel Hempstead from the 1959 general election until his defeat in the October 1974 general election. He worked in the military with Lord Louis Mountbatten and Winston Churchill. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former member of the British House of Commons.

Military career The son of Brigadier General Walter Allason by his wife Katherine Hamilton Poland, daughter of Vice Admiral James Augustus Poland, James Allason was raised primarily by a great-aunt following the death of his mother in 1913 protecting the infant James in a fall down stairs. Allason was a great-grandson of the architect Thomas Allason.

Personal interests As a sportsman Allason raced Bentleys at Brooklands, played polo with maharajahs in India, skied and sailed in international competition, and represented the House of Commons in five sports. He continued skiing until his 87th year, and continued to play Contract Bridge and attend the Opera, on which subjects he wrote.

In 1946, Allason married Nuala (who acted as Nuala McElveen and Nuala Barrie), daughter of John A. McArevey, of Foxrock, Dublin. They had two sons, the younger of whom, the Intelligence historian Rupert Allason, followed him into parliament as Member for Torbay. Julian (1948–2015), the elder son, was a photographer and travel-writer, as well as vice-president of the Anthony Powell Society. The marriage was dissolved in 1974. His wife continued to live at what had been their family home at 15 Cheyne Walk in Chelsea. Allason also lived at Pump Lane House, Bembridge, Isle of Wight.