A demonstrator holds a candle against a placard blaming Health Secretary Virginia Bottomley for possible closure of St. Bartholomew's Hospital during a procession in London, 26 January, 1995. The procession marks the closure of the hospital's accident and emergency department. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque 

John Arend, one of the many who campaigned to save St Bartholomew's hospital weeps after the Court of Appeal refused to grant them leave to appeal. The campaign was fighting against the High Court's decision to reject judicial review proceedings, 29 July, 1994, challenging Health Secretary Virginia Bottomley's plan to close the hospital's accident and emergency unit. REUTERS/Andrew Shaw 

Debbie Corrigan, friend of comedian Jim Davidson, leaves London's Battersea Arts Centre April 24. Debbie had accompanied Davidson during a visit to the centre by Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley.

BRITAIN 

British Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley (L) stands with comedian Jim Davidson on the steps of the entrance foyer to London's Battersea Arts Centre April 24. Bottomley visited the centre which received funding from the national lottery, which Bottomley is responsible for, to rebuild its facilities.

BRITAIN 

British Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley stands on the rear of her Conservative party campaign bus upon her arrival at London's Battersea Arts Centre April 24. Bottomley visited the centre which received funding from the national lottery, which Bottomley is responsible for, to rebuild its facilities.

BRITAIN 

Prime Minister John Major greets Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley as she arrives at Chequers January 27 for a special cabinet meeting. Major has called the meeting to finalise the Conservative manifesto for the forthcoming British General Election.

BRITAIN POLITICS 

Heritage secretary Virginia Bottomley arrives at Chequers January 27. The cabinet are meeting at the Prime Minister's official country residence to put the finishing touches to the party's election manifesto.

BRITAIN-POLITICS 

National Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley shakes hands with her husband Peter after delivering her address to Tory party faithful October 10. Bottomley announced measures to clamp down on satellite channels delivering pornography into Britain.

BRITAIN CONSERVATIVES 

The Prince of Wales (4R front) and Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley (L,front) line up with comedians and rock stars at a reception following their performance in the Mastercard Masters of Music Concert at Hyde Park held in aid of his charity, the Prince's Trust. In the region of 150,000 people are reported to have attended the concert. 

National Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley meets waxwork dummies of sportsmen Will Carling (rear) and Paul Gascoigne during a visit to Madame Tussaud's, one of Britian's top tourist attractions, March 6. The visit coincided with the announcement that visitors from abroad had spent 12 per cent more in 1995 than in the previous year.

BRITAIN TOURISM 

National Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley speaks at the Confederation of British Industry's national conference November 14 

Virginia Bottomley (C), Secretary of State for National Heritage poses outside of the Cafe' Royal with "Ariel" (L) from "The Forbidden Planet" and "Jellylorum" from the musical "Cats" October 18. Bottomley was in the West End to help promote the theatre and its actors 

Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley opens a prize draw mocking Labour leader Tony Blair's policies during her address to the Conservative Party Conference October 10. Bottomley had earlier stated that lottery money would not be used as a replacement for government grants to the arts 

Stephen Dorrell stands in Whitehall with his 'red box' on his way to his first day at work as Secretary of State for Health. Dorrell took over from Virginia Bottomley in yesterday's Cabinet reshuffle 

National Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley (L) and Defence Secretary Michael Portillo (R) arrive at Downing Street, July 6. Today saw the first Cabinet meeting following Major's win in the Tory leadership election 

Secretary of State for Health Virginia Bottomley arrives at Downing Street July 5 

Secretary of State for Health Virginia Bottomley leaves Downing Street after the weekly cabinet meeting April 27. The Royal College of Nursing's 25-member council unanimously voted for an end to the college's no strike policy 

Virginia Bottomley, Secretary of State for Health, at a press conference, April 24. Bottomley unveiled a framework plan for the future development of cancer services in Britain 

Health Secretary Virginia Bottomley arrives at 10 Downing Street for a cabinet meeting March 30. Nurses and doctors are taking part in a day of action against the Government's one percent pay offer 

British Health Secretary Virginia Bottomley inspects a catheter used by Doctor Simon Davies (R) in the treatment of coronary heart disease during a visit to the Royal Brompton Hospital March 20. The catheter is used to releive narrowings in coronary arteries and to implant a very fine tube or "stent" to support the artery. Bottomley has urged midwives to think again about their vote to abandon a no-strike policy following an outrage over one per cent pay rises 

British Health Secretary Virginia Bottomley arrives for a cabinet meeting, February 16 

Health Secretary Virginia Bottomley arrives in Downing Street for a cabinet meeting February 2 

Health Minister Virginia Bottomley speaking at a press conference March 4th