Editing John Major (section)

==Personal life==
[[File:Major00.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=a smiling, clean-shaven middle-aged white man with grey hair, wearing sunglasses|Major at a 2008 cricket match]]
Major married Norma Johnson (now [[Dame Norma Major]]) on 3 October 1970 at St Matthew's Church, Brixton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2013/07/take-a-video-tour-of-1992-brixton-with-john-major-archive-footage/ |title=Take a video tour of 1992 Brixton with John Major|access-date=3 January 2014|date=24 July 2013}}</ref>{{sfn|Major|2000|pp=50-51}}{{sfn|Seldon|1998|p=37}} She was a teacher and a member of the Young Conservatives. They met on [[Election Day (United Kingdom)|polling day]] for the [[Greater London Council]] elections in London, and became engaged after only ten days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/history-and-tour/prime-ministers-in-history/john-major/ |title=Profile at |publisher=10 Downing Street |access-date=17 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324051535/http://www.number10.gov.uk/history-and-tour/prime-ministers-in-history/john-major |archive-date=24 March 2010 }}</ref> They have two children: a daughter, Elizabeth (born November 1971){{sfn|Major|2000|pp=52-53}}{{sfn|Seldon|1998|p=38}} and a son, James (b. January 1975).{{sfn|Major|2000|p=56}} They continue to live at their constituency home, Finings, in [[Great Stukeley|Great Stukeley, Huntingdonshire]].<ref name="rebirth">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2002/aug/02/past.conservatives|title=The rebirth of John|author=Nicholas Watt |work=The Guardian |date=2 August 2002 |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> They also own a flat in London and a [[holiday home]] on the [[Norfolk]] coast at [[Weybourne, Norfolk|Weybourne]], which they have in the past invited ex-soldiers to use for free as part of the Afghan Heroes charity.<ref name="rebirth"/><ref name="Nicholas Watt"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/john-major-buys-3m-riverside-flat-6329902.html|title=John Major buys £3m riverside flat|author=Laura Smith|work=Evening Standard |date=11 November 2002 |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> As with all former prime ministers, Major is entitled to round-the-clock police protection.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1388473/Protection-bill-for-John-Major-rises-to-1.5m.html |title=Protection bill for John Major rises to £1.5m |access-date=12 March 2024 |last=Brogan |first=Benedict |date=22 March 2002 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10500996 |title=Tony Blair police protection costs under scrutiny |access-date=27 April 2020 |publisher=BBC|date=4 July 2010}}</ref>

Elizabeth Major, a veterinary nurse, married Luke Salter on 26 March 2000 at All Saints’ Church, [[Somerby, Leicestershire|Somerby]], having been in a relationship with him since 1988.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/691356.stm |title=John Major's daughter weds |work=BBC News |date=26 March 2000 |access-date=13 March 2011}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/348932.stm |title=The miraculous Major-Balls |work=BBC News  |date=21 May 1999 |access-date=13 March 2011}}</ref> Salter died on 22 November 2002 from cancer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2505099.stm |title=Major's son-in-law dies |work=BBC News |date=22 November 2002 |access-date=13 March 2011}}</ref> James Major, a former retail manager and nightclub promoter, married gameshow hostess [[Emma Noble]] on 29 March 1999 in the Chapel Crypt at Westminster Abbey.<ref name=autogenerated3 /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/355843.stm|title=Family wedding for Major minor |work=BBC News |date=29 May 1999 |access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> They had a son, Harrison, born July 2000, who was later diagnosed with [[autism]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/856593.stm |title=Major minor goes home |work=BBC News|date=29 July 2000 |access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> The marriage ended in an acrimonious divorce in 2003, with Noble accusing Major of "unreasonable behaviour".<ref name = "MajvMaj">{{cite news |title = Noble Vs Major: Sir John and Lady Major deny claims they are ignoring their autistic grandchild
|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/noble-vs-major-sir-john-and-lady-major-deny-claims-they-are-ignoring-their-autistic-grandchild-929875.html |access-date=27 April 2020|work=The Independent |location=London |first=Rachel |last=Shields |date=14 September 2008}}</ref> James later married Kate Postlethwaite (née Dorrell), the mother of his second son.

Major's elder brother, [[Terry Major-Ball|Terry]], who died in 2007, became a minor media personality during Major's period in Downing Street, writing a 1994 autobiography, ''Major Major: Memories of an Older Brother'', and appearing on TV shows such as ''[[Have I Got News for You]]''.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,,2063169,00.html|title=Terry Major-Ball – Obituary|first=Dennis|last=Barker|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=23 April 2007 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="Independent">{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2474439.ece|title=Terry Major-Ball – Obituary|work=[[The Independent]]|date=23 April 2007|location=London|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001083018/http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2474439.ece|archive-date=1 October 2007}}</ref> John's sister, Patricia Dessoy, kept a much lower profile; she died in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/announcements/deaths/deaths/15346025.patricia__dessoy/|title=Patricia Dessoy Obituary|work=Chard & Ilminster News|date=11 June 2017|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> After leaving office Major became aware that his father fathered two half-siblings extramaritally: Tom Moss and Kathleen Lemmon.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/may/21/willwoodward|title=Hunt for Major's long lost brother|work=The Guardian|date=21 May 1999|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/oct/04/conservatives1999.conservatives2|title=Family tree sprouts another branch|work=The Guardian|date=4 October 1999|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/major-steals-the-show-with-secret-siblings-1.234449|title=Major steals the show with 'secret siblings'|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=4 October 1999|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>

Research conducted by Paul Penn-Simkins, a genealogist formerly employed as a researcher at the [[College of Arms]] and as a heraldic consultant at [[Christie's]], and subsequently corroborated by Lynda Rippin, a genealogist employed by Lincolnshire Council, showed that John Major and Margaret Thatcher were fifth cousins once removed, both descending from the Crust family, who farmed at Leake, near [[Boston, Lincolnshire]].<ref>''In the Blood: God, Genes and Destiny'', Steve Jones, Harper Collins, 1996, pp. 63, 72, 90.</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Catherine Milner |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/major-and-thatcher-how-they-are-related-so-it-really-is-in-the-genes-thanks-to-a-genealogist-and-a-1436119.html |title=Major and Thatcher: how they are related: So it really is in the genes. Thanks to a genealogist, and a merchant seaman from Boston, Lincs, we can reveal that Mr Major and Baroness Thatcher are fifth cousins (once removed). Catherine Milner reports |work=The Independent |date=14 May 1994 |access-date=4 September 2017 |archive-date=5 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905003543/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/major-and-thatcher-how-they-are-related-so-it-really-is-in-the-genes-thanks-to-a-genealogist-and-a-1436119.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Brozan |first=Nadine |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/17/style/chronicle-119091.html |title=Chronicle |journal=The New York Times |date=17 May 1994 |access-date=4 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Catherine Milner |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/official-major-is-related-to-thatcher-and-so-am-i-1436062.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/official-major-is-related-to-thatcher-and-so-am-i-1436062.html |archive-date=13 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Official: Major is related to Thatcher . . . and so am I |work=The Independent |date= 14 May 1994|access-date=4 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Catherine Milner |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/major-and-thatcher-theyre-both-related-to-me-says-mr-crust-1436120.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/major-and-thatcher-theyre-both-related-to-me-says-mr-crust-1436120.html |archive-date=13 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Major and Thatcher: they're both related to me, says Mr Crust |work=The Independent |date= 14 May 1994|access-date=4 September 2017}}</ref>

Major has been keen on sports since his youth, most notably cricket;{{sfn|Major|2000|pp=22-24}} he is also a supporter of [[Chelsea F.C.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theshed.chelseafc.com/celebs.shtml |title=The Shed&nbsp;– Celebrity Fans |publisher=Chelsea F.C. |access-date=17 April 2010 |archive-date=23 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723091542/http://theshed.chelseafc.com/celebs.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{sfn|Major|2000|p=21}} and a Patron of [[British Gymnastics]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.british-gymnastics.org/news-and-events/news/latest-news/3529-sir-john-major-becomes-british-gymnastics-patron |title=Sir John Major becomes British Gymnastics Patron |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=British Gymnastics |archive-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207085222/http://www.british-gymnastics.org/news-and-events/news/latest-news/3529-sir-john-major-becomes-british-gymnastics-patron |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also enjoys gardening, listening to music and reading, [[Anthony Trollope]] being among his favourite authors.{{sfn|Seldon|1998|pp=200-201}}{{sfn|Major|2000|pp=10-11}} Major is a [[Christian]], though his upbringing was never especially religious and he states that he is "a believer at a distance".{{sfn|Major|2000|pp=13-14}} He shied away from the topic when in office, stating that "I have always been a little wary of politicians who parade their faith, and prefer a little English reserve on the subject."<ref>{{cite news|author=Philip Giddings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a83sxsXgiJwC&q=I+have+always+been+a+little+wary+of+politicians+who+parade+their+faith%2C+and+prefer+a+little+English+reserve+on+the+subject.&pg=PA29|title=John Major – The Autobiography review |publisher=Third Way |date= December 1999}}</ref>