Bruce Bernard Weatherill, known to his family and friends as Jack, was born in 1920. After service in the Second World War as a Captain in the 19th King George V's Own Lancers in India, he returned to his native Guildford and became active in the local Conservative Association.
In 1964 he was elected Member of Parliament for Croydon North East, which he represented until 1992. He entered the Conservative Whip's office in 1967, becoming Deputy Chief Whip in 1973.
In 1979 he was appointed Chairman of Ways and Means and consequently Deputy Speaker and succeeded George Thomas as Speaker of the House of Commons in 1983.
He was elevated to the peerage following his retirement from the House of Commons in 1992 and became Convenor of the Cross-Bench Peers in 1995. He died in 2007.