Editing Jonathan Aitken (section)

==Early life==
Aitken was born in [[Dublin]], Ireland. His grandfather, [[John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby|Sir John Maffey]] (who was created The 1st [[Baron Rugby]] in February 1947), was the first official British representative to the newly independent Irish state, being appointed in October 1939, at a time when Anglo-Irish relations were strained but improving. Maffey's official title was "United Kingdom Representative to [[Éire]]". Aitken was baptised on 16 October 1942 at [[St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin]], an Anglican church, and he was named "Jonathan William Patrick Aitken". The third name, "Patrick", was included at a late stage owing to the unexpected international importance of the occasion –- one of the Irish papers reported "British envoy's grandson is a real [[List of ethnic slurs#P|Paddy]]". The [[Taoiseach]], [[Éamon de Valera]], who knew his grandparents, asked to attend the christening and his presence at the baptism was symbolic of improving Anglo-Irish relations. Also attending was Princess Juliana (later to become [[Queen Juliana of the Netherlands]]) as his [[Godparent|godmother]].<ref name="thigui-JA">{{Cite episode |title=''The House I Grew Up In'', with Jonathan Aitken as participant |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mw5n3 |series=The House I Grew Up In |network=BBC |station=[[BBC Radio 4]] |series-link=The House I Grew Up In |airdate=29 September 2009}}</ref>

Aitken contracted [[tuberculosis]], and at four years of age was admitted to [[Cappagh Hospital]], Dublin, where he was an inpatient on a TB ward for more than three years, being cared for and educated by Catholic nuns. His father was severely injured as an [[RAF]] pilot when his [[Spitfire]] was shot down during the [[Second World War]].<ref name=thigui-JA/>

Aitken recovered and was discharged from the hospital aged seven. He lived with his parents at [[Halesworth]], Suffolk, and learned to walk properly again within a few months.<ref name=thigui-JA/>

Aitken was educated at Orwell Park School and then privately educated at [[Eton College]], and then studied law at [[Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref name =PP-2004/> His career initially followed a similar path to the post-war career of his father, who became a journalist and then the Conservative Member of Parliament for [[Bury St Edmunds]].<ref name=thigui-JA/>