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Late MP remembered as 'most approachable person'

Submitted Black and white photo of Sally Oppenheim-Barnes stands in front of a crowd in the mid-20th century, wearing a patterned covering over her big hair.Submitted
Sally Oppenheim-Barnes lived in Tuffley during her time as Gloucester's MP

A former Gloucester MP has been remembered as "the most approachable and friendly person you could wish to meet" following her death.

Baroness Sally Oppenheim-Barnes was the city's Conservative MP from 1970 until 1987 and was a minister in Margaret Thatcher's government.

Mrs Oppenheim-Barnes died on 1 January aged 96.

Councillor Andrew Gravells, who campaigned with Mrs Oppenheim-Barnes in the early days of his career, said she had a "wicked sense of humour" and "was always ready to listen".

Mrs Oppenheim-Barnes never lost an election after beating Labour's Jack Diamond, the only cabinet minister to lose their seat in 1970.

Born Sarah Amelia Viner, Ms Oppenheim-Barnes was born in Dublin on 26 July 1928.

She was brought up in Sheffield, where her dad founded a steel and cutlery company, and worked as a social worker in London before changing careers to politics.

During her political career Mrs Oppenheim-Barnes was Shadow Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection and carried a shopping basket in public to show the effects of inflation.

When Thatcher became Prime Minister Mrs Oppenheim-Barnes was appointed Minister of State for Consumer Affairs.

Sally Oppenheim-Barnes speaks in a living room type environment in a picture that may have been taken in the 2000s. She is older, and has big, ginger hair. She is wearing a mint green cardigan with a silver brooch over a mint floral dress, and has red lipstick on. Behind her is a vase of flowers and family photographs in frames.
Mrs Oppenheim-Barnes married Gloucester businessman John Barnes in 1984 following the death of her first husband, Henry Oppenheim, in 1980

Locally Mrs Oppenheim-Barnes was thought of fondly in Conservative circles, with councillor Andrew Gravells saying she was the "opposite of formidable" as, although she was "super efficient", she was "approachable and super friendly".

"It was my pleasure and privilege to work from her when I was a rookie councillor way back in the 1970s and unwittingly pick up a lot of the good points of how she worked," he said.

Mr Gravells added Mrs Oppenheim-Barnes was a "determined campaigner" and was "particularly passionate" about Gloucester keeping its grammar schools.

"She was an effective, friendly, and approachable Member of Parliament and with that formula you really had to be pretty smart to unseat her and nobody really ever achieved that."

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