Prime Minister Edward Heath enjoying a performance by the bowler-hatted Philanderers outside his official London residence, Number 10 Downing Street. * 24/10/00: Sir Edward Heath is to retire from Parliament at the next general election after more than 50 years as an MP. As the Father of the House - its longest serving Member - Sir Edward conducted the arduous procedure to elect the new Speaker. Despite his age, Sir Edward is a regular attender at the Commons, an occasional speaker - always without notes and invariably witty - and never misses an opportunity to proclaim his pro-European views.