Melvyn John 'Mel' Stride is a British Conservative Party politician. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Central Devon at the 2010 general election. On 28 October 2011, Stride was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, John Hayes.` Stride was selected as prospective Conservative candidate for Central Devon in June 2006 after his name was added to David Cameron's Conservative A-List in 2006. He was the first A-Lister to be selected. He was educated at Portsmouth Grammar School and then Oxford University where he was elected President of the Oxford Union. 

September 30th, 1961 in United Kingdom (Age 62)