Jeremy Thorpe later 1950s Thorpe juggled his legal and television work with his political duties in North Devon, where he worked tirelessly to build up support. From September 1956 the Liberal Party was led by Jo Grimond, a more up-to-date figure than his elderly predecessor Davies, and more in tune with the ideas of Thorpe and the Radical Reform Group. After an uncertain beginning—the Liberals lost one of their six seats to Labour in a February 1957 by-election—Grimond's leadership began to produce results. The party polled well in a series of by-elections during 1957 and 1958, culminating in a victory at Torrington
Michael Ramsey the debate club and spoke at various places in the United States. Then upon return, he heard a Liberal Party leader, Lord Hugh Cecil remark that the Church was the place to go if you wanted to help people, and he heard that as his vocation from God. He remained a Liberal, and became close friends with Jeremy Thorpe, leader of the Liberal Party from 1967 until his sudden resignation in 1976. Ramsey and Joan, his wife, were godparents of Thorpe's son Rupert whom Ramsey baptized in 1969, and Ramsey officiated at Thorpe's second marriage to Marion, after his first