FORMER Prime Minister John Major flew in by helicopter to help celebrate Wycombe MP Sir Ray Whitney's 20 years in office.>

John Major flies in to celebrate with Sir Ray

Picture shows ex-Prime Minister John Major landing at Adams Park

FORMER Prime Minister John Major flew in by helicopter to help celebrate Wycombe MP Sir Ray Whitney's 20 years in office.

Mr Major told 200 Conservatives at a reception at Adams Park, High Wycombe, on Thursday that Sir Ray, 67, was one of the party's most loyal backbenchers.

Wycombe Conservative Association presented Sir Ray with an antique barometer and a cartoon of the MP on a golf course. Sir Ray presented the association with a watercolour of Mr Major.

Mr Major said: "Thanks to Ray for all he's done in the Commons. He's been a good friend in good times and bad and always been honest."

Sir Ray said: "My heart is too full to say too much as there are so many old friends here and so many outrageously nice things have been said that I can't try to cap them all or correct them."

He praised his former and current agents, Sue Hynard and Marcus Green, parliamentary secretary Jane Dickins, and particularly his wife Lady Sheila Whitney.

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