Dick Knowles
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Sir Richard “Dick” Knowles | |
---|---|
Leader of Birmingham City Council | |
In office May 1984 – October 1993 | |
Preceded by | Neville Bosworth |
Succeeded by | Theresa Stewart |
Member of Birmingham City Council | |
In office 1972–2000 | |
Member of West Midlands County Council | |
In office 1973–1977 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Richard Marchant Knowles 20 May 1917 |
Died | 18 February 2008 | (aged 90)
Political party | Labour |
Known for | Leader of Birmingham City Council |
Sir Richard Marchant Knowles (20 May 1917 – 18 February 2008) was a British politician known for his work in local government in Birmingham. He led the Labour Party administration on Birmingham City Council from 1984 to 1993.
Knowles was brought up in Kent and worked in the building industry from the age of 14. After brief service in the Royal Engineers during World War II, he became a builder and shipbuilder in 1941. In 1950 he became a trade union organiser in the building trade, working in Sevenoaks, Dover, Leeds and eventually ending up in Birmingham.
From 1971, he became national organiser of the
In 1980, Knowles returned as Planning Committee chairman for two years. He was promoted to be Labour group leader and became Leader of the Council in 1984 when Labour won control.
Knowles played a key role in the transformation of Birmingham city centre during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was influential in bringing about the
He was
Knowles stood down from the leadership in 1993, being succeeded by
On 2 May 2007, the then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, paid tribute to Dick Knowles's contribution to the regeneration of Birmingham, during Prime Minister's Questions at Westminster.
He was still politically active as a governor of
Death and legacy
Knowles died of bladder cancer, aged 90. His son, Bill Knowles, added that his father had lived "a very full and complete life".
The Knowles stand, one of four stands for spectators at Alexander Stadium is named after him.
References
- ^ Cohen, Nick (10 October 1993). "Renaissance that never was: Birmingham's new leader snubs prestige building projects". The Independent. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
External links
- Obituary
- Picture of Dick at the Birmingham Carnival 1994.
- Obituary in The Times, 28 February 2008 (£)
- Obituary in the Guardian, 21 February 2008
- Obituary in The Daily Telegraph, 26 February 2008