Sir Alan Glyn, former Tory MP; born September 26, 1918, died May 4, 1998

Sir Alan Glyn, who has died at the age of 79, was one of those figures in British politics whose achievements failed to match their promise. An assiduous attender in the House of Commons, he was more or less a permanent fixture at departmental question time and could often be seen in his place late at night during what might appear to others to be minor business.

A quiet, undemonstrative man, his somewhat aloof nature may have contributed to his failure to achieve political office of any stature, but his constituents could be in no doubt that he had their interests at heart, and he was a constant advocate of good old-fashioned family values and ''the British way of doing things''. Occasionally in the House his contributions would provoke laughter from younger MPs on the Opposition benches with a less traditional point of view.

Glyn, the son of an English barrister and a Scottish mother, was educated at Westminster School and Caius College, Cambridge. He served with the Royal Horse Guards in the Far East from 1942-46, and then seemed set for a medical career, having qualified as a medical practitioner in 1948.

However, after only a few years, he decided to follow his father's profession and was called to the Bar in 1955. Politics came next, winning the Clapham division of Wandsworth for the Tories in 1959, only to lose it to Harold Wilson's Labour in 1964.

He was in the political wilderness for six years, finally returning in 1970 as Member for the safe seat of Windsor - later Windsor and Maidenhead - which he held until he retired from the House in 1992.

Away from politics he had what can only be described as a colourful career, which in a way makes it all the more puzzling that he did not obtain, or even appear to seek, ministerial office.

He joined the freedom fighters in Hungary during the Hungarian revolution in 1956; was attached to the French Foreign Legion - by special permission of the French government - to observe military operations, in 1960; and spent some time in 1967 as a war correspondent in Vietnam.

Much of his interest, indeed, lay in overseas affairs, and he was involved in a number of parliamentary groups linked with European and Asian countries. He was knighted in 1990 and is survived by his wife and two daughters.