▁of ▁Alexander ▁Edward ▁G ow , ▁a ▁London ▁doctor ▁attached ▁to ▁St ▁Bar th ol ome w ' s ▁Hospital ▁who ▁died ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 2 . ▁Ian ▁G ow ▁was ▁educated ▁at ▁Win chester ▁College , ▁where ▁he ▁was ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁deb ating ▁society . ▁During ▁a ▁period ▁of ▁national ▁service ▁from ▁ 1 9 5 5 ▁to ▁ 1 9 5 8 ▁he ▁was ▁commission ed ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 5 th / 1 9 th ▁H uss ars ▁and ▁served ▁in ▁Northern ▁Ireland , ▁Germany ▁and ▁Mal aya . ▁ ▁He ▁subsequently ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁territorial ▁army ▁until ▁ 1 9 7 6 , ▁reaching ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁Major . ▁ ▁After ▁comple ting ▁national ▁service ▁he ▁took ▁up ▁a ▁career ▁in ▁the ▁law ▁and ▁qualified ▁as ▁a ▁solic itor ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 2 . ▁He ▁eventually ▁became ▁a ▁partner ▁in ▁the ▁London ▁practice ▁of ▁Jo yn son - H icks ▁and ▁Co . ▁He ▁also ▁became ▁a ▁Conserv ative ▁Party ▁activ ist . ▁He ▁stood ▁for ▁Parliament ▁in ▁the ▁Cov entry ▁East ▁constitu ency ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 4 ▁general ▁election , ▁but ▁lost ▁to ▁Richard ▁Cross man . ▁He ▁then ▁stood ▁for ▁the ▁Cla ph am ▁constitu ency , ▁a ▁Labour - h eld ▁London ▁marg inal ▁seat , ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 6 ▁general ▁election . ▁An ▁account ▁in ▁The ▁Times ▁of ▁his ▁candid ature ▁described ▁him ▁in ▁the ▁following ▁terms : ▁" He ▁is ▁a ▁b ach