David Cameron mourns brilliant older brother who inspired him to Tory leadership: Lawyer Alexander Cameron dies aged 59 after battle with cancer
- Former Prime Minister David Cameron’s brother has died of cancer at the age of 59
- Lawyer Alexander Cameron is said to have encouraged his brother to run for leader of the Conservative Party and subsequently prime minister in 2010.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron’s brother died of cancer at the age of 59.
Alexander Cameron suffered a long battle with ill health and left the law school to retire after his cancer diagnosis in 2020, following a career spanning more than 30 years.
The star lawyer was the first to appear on camera while in action at the Court of Appeal. But Alex’s brilliance reached far beyond the courtroom.
Some argue that it was his success that ignited his younger brother’s ambitions, so much so that his brother propelled himself to the post of Prime Minister in 2010.
Young Cameron hinted at it when, twelve years ago, he was a guest editor for Big Issue magazine.
“I lived in the shadow of my older brother,” wrote the then prime minister. ‘He was three years older and it was a huge success. It was great to have that kind of role model and I was incredibly proud of him, but like many younger brothers, you always find yourself a few steps behind.
Alexander Cameron suffered a long battle with ill health and left the law school to retire after his cancer diagnosis in 2020, following a career spanning more than 30 years.
Described as a ‘phenomenon’ with ‘exciting defending skills’ and ‘universally beloved’, he was just 39 when he was appointed Queen’s Counsel. Pictured: Leaving Southwark Crown Court on June 6, 2016
Pictured: Alex’s exit photo from Eton College. A friend recalled him showing it: “jumping a fence, he was a very good athlete, with a glass of champagne balanced on the fence.” He still holds the record for the 440 m race.
Alex Cameron (left) in a photograph from Heatherdown Preparatory School, Heatherdown. Former Prime Minister David Cameron was also at Heatherdown Preparatory School, pictured in 1976 (right)
Some argue that it was his success that ignited his younger brother’s ambitions, so much so that David Cameron propelled himself into the office of Prime Minister in 2010.
When his prep school, Heatherdown in Berkshire, put on a production of Toad Of Toad Hall, Alex, as he was always known, took center stage as Rat. David had a minor role as ‘Harold Rabbit’.
The status disparity grew at Eton, where Alex became a member of ‘Pop’, the school’s self-appointed elite who are entitled to wear fancy waistcoats.
Alex’s starting photo, recalls a friend, showed him ‘jumping a fence, he was a very good athlete, with a glass of champagne balanced on the fence’. He still holds the record for the 440 m race.
At the University of Bristol, he dazzled his contemporaries. “She was extraordinarily nice and extremely bright,” says one of them. ‘Just one of those personalities who could take everyone with him.’
His talents were perfectly suited to his later legal career, during which he married solicitor Sarah Fearnley-Whittingstall, chef Hugh’s cousin, and had two children, Imogen and Angus.
Described as a ‘phenomenon’ with ‘exciting defending skills’ and ‘universally beloved’, he was just 39 when he was appointed Queen’s Counsel.
His contribution to politics had been made long before. Not in his own name, he was content to be president of his parish council, but, it is said, encouraging the younger brother who had once lived in his shadow, when Conservative leadership was at stake. “You have to go for it,” Alex said.
The rest is history.
