George Burnaby Drayson (9 March 1913 – 16 September 1983) was a British Conservative Party politician. Drayson was educated at Borlase School and was a company director and a member of the London Stock Exchange 1935–54. During World War II he served in the Western Desert with the Royal Artillery and was taken prisoner. He escaped in September 1943, and walked 500 miles, with a companion, through Axis-occupied Italy from north to south. He was a member of the Royal Agricultural Society and the Livestock Export Council of Great Britain. Drayson was member of parliament for Skipton from 1945 to 1979, preceding John Watson. Drayson saw off strong Liberal Party challenges to his position. He came closest to losing in the October 1974 general election to the ebullient, local Liberal candidate Claire Brooks just holding on with the narrow majority of 590 (1.4%). References Times Guide to the House of Commons October 1974 External links 1913 births 1983 deaths Royal Artillery officers British Army personnel of World War II Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1945–1950 UK MPs 1950–1951 UK MPs 1951–1955 UK MPs 1955–1959 UK MPs 1959–1964 UK MPs 1964–1966 UK MPs 1966–1970 UK MPs 1970–1974 UK MPs 1974 UK MPs 1974–1979