Douglas Houghton, Baron Houghton of Sowerby
PC | |
---|---|
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | |
In office 18 October 1964 – 6 April 1966 | |
Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
Preceded by | The Lord Blakenham |
Succeeded by | George Thomson |
Member of Parliament for Sowerby | |
In office 17 March 1949 – 8 February 1974 | |
Preceded by | John Belcher |
Succeeded by | Max Madden |
Personal details | |
Born | 11 August 1898 |
Died | 2 May 1996 (aged 97) |
Spouse | Vera Travis |
Arthur Leslie Noel Douglas Houghton, Baron Houghton of Sowerby,
Early life
Houghton was born in Long Eaton, Derbyshire[1] and later secured a post in the civil service. He then fought in the First World War, surviving the Battle of Passchendaele.
Political career
Houghton was a great believer in equality of opportunity and campaigned for certain numbers of lower (clerical) grade civil servants to have the chance of taking an examination that could lead to previously unheard-of promotion [citation needed]. In 1922, he founded the Inland Revenue Staff Federation and was its leader from 1922 to 1960. He served on the General Council of the Trades Union Congress from 1952 to 1960, and as Chairman of the Staff Side Civil Service National Whitley Council from 1955 to 1957.
He was a panel member of a BBC radio programme Can I help You? between 1941 and 1964. His connections with the London Labour movement and the Labour Party gave him the profile to become an Alderman of the London County Council - the forerunner of the Greater London Council - from 1947–1949.
After
He was re-elected in the subsequent general elections of 1950, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1964, 1966 and 1970. His head for figures and tenacity made him a good candidate for Chairman of the
The post of
Houghton became a
Lord Houghton was passionate about the subject of animal welfare and spoke in the House of Lords on the subject a number of times. Shortly before he died in 1996, he was the last member of the House of Lords to have fought in the First World War, and at 97, was then its oldest serving member.[1] A warm tribute was paid to him by Tam Dalyell, himself a former MP, in one of Britain's national newspapers.[1]
The Labour History Archive and Study Centre at the People's History Museum in Manchester holds the collection of Douglas Houghton, whose papers include those of the Parliamentary Labour Party, animal charities and pressure groups, as well as broadcasts, speeches and correspondence.[4]
Personal life
In 1939, he married Vera Houghton who also worked at Association of Officers for Taxes, before becoming a campaigner for abortion law reform and free birth control.[5]
Arms
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References
- ^ a b c Obituary, The Independent, accessed 1 August 2012
- ^ "No. 44228". The London Gazette. 17 January 1967. p. 579.
- ^ "No. 46352". The London Gazette. 24 September 1974. p. 7917.
- ^ Collections Catalogues & Descriptions, Labour History Archive and Study Centre, archived from the original on 13 January 2015, retrieved 5 February 2015
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
- ^ Debrett's Peerage. 1985.