Editing Patrick Mercer (section)

==Early life and education==
Born in Stockport in Cheshire in 1956, Mercer is the son of [[Eric Mercer]], who became [[Bishop of Exeter]]. His mother was born in Lincolnshire and his father was trained for the priesthood at Kelham Theological College near Newark.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1488403.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310212942/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1488403.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 March 2007 |title=''The Times'' Profile of Patrick Mercer 2007 |publisher=Timesonline.co.uk |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref>

Mercer was educated at [[The King's School, Chester]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Mercer_Patrick.aspx |title=The Conservative Party &#124; People &#124; Members of Parliament &#124; Patrick Mercer OBE MP |publisher=Conservatives.com |date=11 September 2001 |access-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103052118/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Mercer_Patrick.aspx |archive-date=3 January 2013 }}</ref> and [[Exeter College, Oxford]], where he read history. He was later commissioned after training at the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Mercer_Patrick.aspx |title=Conservative Party Profile: Patrick Mercer |publisher=Conservatives.com |date=11 September 2001 |access-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103052118/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Mercer_Patrick.aspx |archive-date=3 January 2013 }}</ref> Whilst there, he was one of a number of cadets interviewed for an edition of the BBC's ''[[Panorama (British TV programme)|Panorama]]'' programme.<ref>''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00kfytm Panorama: Sandhurst]'', BBC, transmitted 15 September 1975</ref>