In the space of just two weeks, British Prime Minister David Cameron has gone from joy to despair.
Two weeks ago he became a father for the fourth time when his wife Samantha gave birth, three weeks early, to Florence whilst they were on holiday in Cornwall.
But today David Cameron's father has died whilst on holiday in the South of France.
The PM was informed at 6am this morning by his mother that his father Ian, 77, suffered a stroke and was taken to the Font-Pre Hospital in Toulon.
Ian, a former stockbroker who was born in Scotland, was disabled and travelled around in a wheelchair but his death is not thought to be linked to that. Ian had both legs amputated after being born with a birth defect.
Cameron was then joined by his elder brother Alex and sister Clare on a commercial flight from London City Airport at 9.30am and they touched down in the South of France at around 12.30pm.
A helicopter, courtesy of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, then whisked them to the hospital. His father died a short time later after having never seen his new granddaughter.
A Downing Street spokesman said this afternoon: 'It is with deep regret that we can confirm Ian Cameron died earlier this afternoon.
'He passed away shortly after the PM arrived at the hospital in France where he was receiving treatment.'
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg had to stand in for the PM during today's Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, which is held every Wednesday when Parliament is sitting and is shown live on TV.
Just last night David Cameron was picking up the Politician of the Year award at the GQ Men of the Year Awards.
David Cameron's father dies in France after suffering a stroke while on holiday
By Nicola Boden
8th September 2010
Daily Mail
David Cameron's father died with the Prime Minister at his bedside today, hours after suffering a stroke during a holiday with his wife.
Ian Cameron, 77, passed away shortly after the Prime Minister and his brother and sister arrived in the south of France this lunchtime.
Friends said the Prime Minister was 'relieved' to have reached his father in time and 'pleased' he died peacefully during a 'happy family holiday'.
But his sudden death will be a devastating blow to the Tory leader, who has previously hailed his father as his 'role model' and a 'huge hero figure'.
It comes just two weeks after Mr Cameron and his wife Samantha celebrated the birth of their fourth child, Florence, and 18 months after their elder son Ivan tragically died.
Fraught: David Cameron arriving at Font-Pre Hospital in Toulon this afternoon
Inspiration: David Cameron greeting his father at a rally in Swindon in April
Mr Cameron senior never saw his new grandchild, who was born three weeks early during the Prime Minister's summer holiday in Cornwall last month.
He and his wife were half-way through a two-week holiday in the south of France when he collapsed.
The former stockbroker was disabled and travelled around in a wheelchair but his death is not believed to be linked to an existing medical condition.
A Downing Street spokesman said this afternoon: 'It is with deep regret that we can confirm Ian Cameron died earlier this afternoon.
'He passed away shortly after the PM arrived at the hospital in France where he was receiving treatment.'
The Prime Minister, who had been celebrating at the GQ awards hours earlier, received a phone call from his mother Mary at 6am telling him the grave news.
He then spoke to the doctors in charge of his father's care at Font-Pre Hospital in Toulon and immediately decided he had to rush across the Channel.
Mr Cameron, who had only just returned to work after Florence's birth last month, pulled out of PMQs and headed straight for the airport.
He was joined by his elder brother Alex and sister Clare on a commercial flight from London City at 9.30am and they touched down at around 12.30pm.
A helicopter, organised at the behest of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, was waiting to rush them to the hospital so that they could get to their father in time.
Sources close to the PM said he was 'incredibly grateful' to the French authorities for the move because otherwise it probably would have been too late.
Loss: Ian Cameron at his daughter Claire's wedding in April
Support: Ian and Mary Cameron applauding their son at the rally in Swindon
Walking from the aircraft at the hospital, Mr Cameron - in an open-necked shirt and black chinos - kept his gaze to the ground.
MY FATHER THE HERO
Just months ago, David Cameron described his father Ian as a 'huge hero figure'.
He has spoken of his admiration at how he remained stoical in the face of considerable adversity and was determined to live life to the full.
As a teenager, David told a friend: 'My dad is my role model, he has never let his disability hold him back. He has proved you can do what you want in life.'
Ian Cameron was born in Scotland on October 12, 1932, with his legs foreshortened below the knee and with three toes on one foot and four on the other.
He had endless operations to straighten his legs as a child, leaving him just 5ft2in, but played cricket and tennis at Eton.
He trained as an accountant on leaving school but went into banking before following his father in joining London stockbrokers Panmure Gordon.
In 1957, Mr Cameron became the third generation of his family to be a partner in the firm.
He later had both legs amputated and lost the sight in one eye but his son said he always saw the glass as half-full, describing him as 'an amazingly brave man'.
He married Mary Mount in 1962 and the couple have four children, Alexander, David, Tania and Clare.
David's romance with wife Samantha is believed to have started during a holiday in Italy in 1992 to mark his father's 6oth birthday.
His demeanour was in stark contrast to the utter joy he showed outside the hospital in Cornwall last month when his new baby daughter was born.
Mr Cameron will now stay the night in France. It is not yet clear what he will do over the next few days but he may take the rest of the week off, with Mr Clegg stepping in again just as he did during the Prime Minister's paternity leave.
The Deputy Prime Minister said this afternoon: 'My thoughts and condolences are with David and his family at this time.
'Despite the sadness of today, I am very glad that David's father lived to see him become Prime Minister and that David was able to be at his father's side at the end.'
Ian Cameron was said to have been enormously 'proud' to see his son become Prime Minister and had visited both No10 and Chequers since the election in May.
He and his wife Mary, 75, appeared at an election rally in Swindon with their son earlier this year.
During the campaign, the Tory leader hailed his parents as the inspiration behind his idea of the Big Society vision of community involvement.
Ian was a former stockbroker who used to commute into London from Berkshire every day despite having severely deformed legs.
He was born with his legs foreshortened below the knee and with three toes on one foot and four on the other.
He had endless operations to straighten his legs, leaving him just 5ft 2in. He later had both legs amputated and lost the sight in one eye.
However, he was understood not to have had a history of heart problems.
Earlier this year, the Prime Minister paid tribute to his father's optimism despite his disability and described him as 'a huge hero figure'.
During the election campaign, he said: 'He's an amazingly brave man because he was born with no heels - quite a disability.
'But the glass with him was half-full, normally with something alcoholic. I think I got my sense of optimism from him.'
Sudden: The Font-Pre Hospital in Toulon where Ian Cameron was treated
Ian, who was born in Scotland, was the third generation of the family to be a partner in the London stockbroking firm Panmure Gordon.
He married wife Mary, the daughter of a baronet and landowner, in 1962 and they went on to have four children - Alexander, Tania, David and Claire.
The family later moved from the capital to Berkshire, where Mrs Cameron became a JP and her husband commuted to the City.
An old family friend and neighbour said before his death: 'Ian is a huge personality and I think he keenly felt his physical handicap.
'His twin passions were horseracing and White's [the St James' club where he was chairman] and he loved to socialise.'
The pool at the family home in Peasmore was apparently paid for by one of Mr Cameron senior's wins on the horses.
His death is a new twist in the huge emotional roller-coaster the Camerons have been on in the past two years.
Their oldest child Ivan, who was severely disabled, died in February 2009, and they soon started trying for another child.
The news they were expecting a baby was announced weeks before the election campaign began in earnest.
Mr Cameron and the Tories did not win outright but he eventually made it into No10 days later after striking a historic power-sharing deal with the Liberal Democrats.
Daughter Florence was then born at the end of August, arriving early during the family's holiday to Cornwall.
Joy to despair: The Prime Minister was picking up the Politician of the Year award at the GQ Men of the Year Awards last night
Sudden: Ian Cameron never got to meet his newest grandchild, Florence
dailymail.co.uk
Two weeks ago he became a father for the fourth time when his wife Samantha gave birth, three weeks early, to Florence whilst they were on holiday in Cornwall.
But today David Cameron's father has died whilst on holiday in the South of France.
The PM was informed at 6am this morning by his mother that his father Ian, 77, suffered a stroke and was taken to the Font-Pre Hospital in Toulon.
Ian, a former stockbroker who was born in Scotland, was disabled and travelled around in a wheelchair but his death is not thought to be linked to that. Ian had both legs amputated after being born with a birth defect.
Cameron was then joined by his elder brother Alex and sister Clare on a commercial flight from London City Airport at 9.30am and they touched down in the South of France at around 12.30pm.
A helicopter, courtesy of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, then whisked them to the hospital. His father died a short time later after having never seen his new granddaughter.
A Downing Street spokesman said this afternoon: 'It is with deep regret that we can confirm Ian Cameron died earlier this afternoon.
'He passed away shortly after the PM arrived at the hospital in France where he was receiving treatment.'
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg had to stand in for the PM during today's Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, which is held every Wednesday when Parliament is sitting and is shown live on TV.
Just last night David Cameron was picking up the Politician of the Year award at the GQ Men of the Year Awards.
David Cameron's father dies in France after suffering a stroke while on holiday
By Nicola Boden
8th September 2010
Daily Mail
David Cameron's father died with the Prime Minister at his bedside today, hours after suffering a stroke during a holiday with his wife.
Ian Cameron, 77, passed away shortly after the Prime Minister and his brother and sister arrived in the south of France this lunchtime.
Friends said the Prime Minister was 'relieved' to have reached his father in time and 'pleased' he died peacefully during a 'happy family holiday'.
But his sudden death will be a devastating blow to the Tory leader, who has previously hailed his father as his 'role model' and a 'huge hero figure'.
It comes just two weeks after Mr Cameron and his wife Samantha celebrated the birth of their fourth child, Florence, and 18 months after their elder son Ivan tragically died.
Fraught: David Cameron arriving at Font-Pre Hospital in Toulon this afternoon
Inspiration: David Cameron greeting his father at a rally in Swindon in April
Mr Cameron senior never saw his new grandchild, who was born three weeks early during the Prime Minister's summer holiday in Cornwall last month.
He and his wife were half-way through a two-week holiday in the south of France when he collapsed.
The former stockbroker was disabled and travelled around in a wheelchair but his death is not believed to be linked to an existing medical condition.
A Downing Street spokesman said this afternoon: 'It is with deep regret that we can confirm Ian Cameron died earlier this afternoon.
'He passed away shortly after the PM arrived at the hospital in France where he was receiving treatment.'
The Prime Minister, who had been celebrating at the GQ awards hours earlier, received a phone call from his mother Mary at 6am telling him the grave news.
He then spoke to the doctors in charge of his father's care at Font-Pre Hospital in Toulon and immediately decided he had to rush across the Channel.
Mr Cameron, who had only just returned to work after Florence's birth last month, pulled out of PMQs and headed straight for the airport.
He was joined by his elder brother Alex and sister Clare on a commercial flight from London City at 9.30am and they touched down at around 12.30pm.
A helicopter, organised at the behest of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, was waiting to rush them to the hospital so that they could get to their father in time.
Sources close to the PM said he was 'incredibly grateful' to the French authorities for the move because otherwise it probably would have been too late.
Loss: Ian Cameron at his daughter Claire's wedding in April
Support: Ian and Mary Cameron applauding their son at the rally in Swindon
Walking from the aircraft at the hospital, Mr Cameron - in an open-necked shirt and black chinos - kept his gaze to the ground.
MY FATHER THE HERO
Just months ago, David Cameron described his father Ian as a 'huge hero figure'.
He has spoken of his admiration at how he remained stoical in the face of considerable adversity and was determined to live life to the full.
As a teenager, David told a friend: 'My dad is my role model, he has never let his disability hold him back. He has proved you can do what you want in life.'
Ian Cameron was born in Scotland on October 12, 1932, with his legs foreshortened below the knee and with three toes on one foot and four on the other.
He had endless operations to straighten his legs as a child, leaving him just 5ft2in, but played cricket and tennis at Eton.
He trained as an accountant on leaving school but went into banking before following his father in joining London stockbrokers Panmure Gordon.
In 1957, Mr Cameron became the third generation of his family to be a partner in the firm.
He later had both legs amputated and lost the sight in one eye but his son said he always saw the glass as half-full, describing him as 'an amazingly brave man'.
He married Mary Mount in 1962 and the couple have four children, Alexander, David, Tania and Clare.
David's romance with wife Samantha is believed to have started during a holiday in Italy in 1992 to mark his father's 6oth birthday.
His demeanour was in stark contrast to the utter joy he showed outside the hospital in Cornwall last month when his new baby daughter was born.
Mr Cameron will now stay the night in France. It is not yet clear what he will do over the next few days but he may take the rest of the week off, with Mr Clegg stepping in again just as he did during the Prime Minister's paternity leave.
The Deputy Prime Minister said this afternoon: 'My thoughts and condolences are with David and his family at this time.
'Despite the sadness of today, I am very glad that David's father lived to see him become Prime Minister and that David was able to be at his father's side at the end.'
Ian Cameron was said to have been enormously 'proud' to see his son become Prime Minister and had visited both No10 and Chequers since the election in May.
He and his wife Mary, 75, appeared at an election rally in Swindon with their son earlier this year.
During the campaign, the Tory leader hailed his parents as the inspiration behind his idea of the Big Society vision of community involvement.
Ian was a former stockbroker who used to commute into London from Berkshire every day despite having severely deformed legs.
He was born with his legs foreshortened below the knee and with three toes on one foot and four on the other.
He had endless operations to straighten his legs, leaving him just 5ft 2in. He later had both legs amputated and lost the sight in one eye.
However, he was understood not to have had a history of heart problems.
Earlier this year, the Prime Minister paid tribute to his father's optimism despite his disability and described him as 'a huge hero figure'.
During the election campaign, he said: 'He's an amazingly brave man because he was born with no heels - quite a disability.
'But the glass with him was half-full, normally with something alcoholic. I think I got my sense of optimism from him.'
Sudden: The Font-Pre Hospital in Toulon where Ian Cameron was treated
Ian, who was born in Scotland, was the third generation of the family to be a partner in the London stockbroking firm Panmure Gordon.
He married wife Mary, the daughter of a baronet and landowner, in 1962 and they went on to have four children - Alexander, Tania, David and Claire.
The family later moved from the capital to Berkshire, where Mrs Cameron became a JP and her husband commuted to the City.
An old family friend and neighbour said before his death: 'Ian is a huge personality and I think he keenly felt his physical handicap.
'His twin passions were horseracing and White's [the St James' club where he was chairman] and he loved to socialise.'
The pool at the family home in Peasmore was apparently paid for by one of Mr Cameron senior's wins on the horses.
His death is a new twist in the huge emotional roller-coaster the Camerons have been on in the past two years.
Their oldest child Ivan, who was severely disabled, died in February 2009, and they soon started trying for another child.
The news they were expecting a baby was announced weeks before the election campaign began in earnest.
Mr Cameron and the Tories did not win outright but he eventually made it into No10 days later after striking a historic power-sharing deal with the Liberal Democrats.
Daughter Florence was then born at the end of August, arriving early during the family's holiday to Cornwall.
Joy to despair: The Prime Minister was picking up the Politician of the Year award at the GQ Men of the Year Awards last night
Sudden: Ian Cameron never got to meet his newest grandchild, Florence
dailymail.co.uk
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