Martin Attlee, 2nd Earl Attlee

His father chose to tackle this issue by having his son educated at Millfield School, which under its founding headmaster, the educationalist Jack Meyer, was noted for its progressive approach to reading problems.

After a spell working for Iberian Airways, among other companies, he eventually joined British Rail's Southern Region, working for a long time in its public relations department; it was this experience that prompted him to write his book Bluff Your Way in PR (1971).

Attlee inherited the earldom,[4] which carried with it a seat in the House of Lords, on his father's death in 1967.

[5] After the SDP opted for merger with the Liberal Party, Attlee was one of the minority who chose to remain in the 'continuing' SDP led by David Owen, standing for that party in the Hampshire Central European Parliament by-election in December 1988, where he received 5,952 votes (7.7%).

[7] Attlee died at Southampton General Hospital on 27 July 1991 at the age of 63 following a stroke.