Topic: Patrick Mercer

Patrick John Mercer OBE (born 26 June 1956) is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom, representing the constituency of Newark in Parliament. A former infantry officer in the British Army and journalist for the BBC, Mercer has recently published his first novel, To Do And Die, based on the real-life story of Anthony Morgan, who fought in the Crimean War.

Born in Stockport in Cheshire in 1956, Patrick Mercer is the son of Eric Arthur John Mercer, who became Bishop of Exeter. His mother was born in Lincolnshire and his father was trained for the priesthood at Kelham Theological College near Newark. Patrick was educated at The King's School, Chester and went on to read History at Exeter College, Oxford. He was later commissioned after service at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Patrick followed his father, who saw wartime service in the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), into the British Army, being commissioned into the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in 1975. During his time in the Army, Mercer completed nine tours in Northern Ireland and latterly commanded his battalion in Bosnia, Canada and Tidworth. Mercer served as an instructor at both the Staff College Camberley and at the Army’s University at Cranfield.