Henry Underhill, Baron Underhill
Encyclopedia
Henry Reginall Underhill, Baron Underhill CBE
(8 May 1914 – 12 March 1993), also known as Reg Underhill, was a British
party worker and Labour
politician.
. He was appointed an honorary secretary of the British Workers' Sports Association and in 1936 travelled with the British delegation to the People's Olympiad
in Barcelona
. During the Second World War, Underhill refused to fight, citing his socialism, however served in the National Fire Service
in London, often acting as a driver.
In 1945, after the end of the war, he was assistant to Morgan Phillips
, at that time the General Secretary of the Labour Party
. He was then administrative assistant to the party's national agent until 1947 and worked as propaganda officer until the next year. From 1948, Underhill served as Labour's regional organiser in the West Midlands
until 1960, when he was chosen assistant national agent.
1972, he became finally the National Agent of the Labour Party. Underhill was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE) in the Birthday's Honours 1976 and on his retirement from his post in 1979, he was created a life peer
with the title Baron Underhill, of Leyton, in Greater London
on 12 July. He became Labour's Opposition front bench spokesman on transport in the House of Lords
in 1980 and on electoral affairs in 1983. On the resignation of Cledwyn Hughes
in 1982, Underhill was elected deputy leader of Labour in the House, a post he held until 1989. He was a founding member of the reformed Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff
and received the union's goldmedal.
in 1993 and left a daughter, Joan, and two sons, Terry and Bob.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(8 May 1914 – 12 March 1993), also known as Reg Underhill, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
party worker and Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician.
Background
He was the youngest son of Henry James Underhill and his wife Alice Maud Butler. Underhill was educated at Leyton Central School and left it in 1929. Aged only sixteen, he joined the Labour Party in the following year and was a Lloyd's Underwriter until 1933.Career
Subsequently Underhill began working as a junior clerk in the party's head office and became vice-chairman in the constituency of Leyton WestLeyton West (UK Parliament constituency)
Leyton West was a parliamentary constituency in the Municipal Borough of Leyton, then part of Essex but now in Greater London.It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.-History:The constituency...
. He was appointed an honorary secretary of the British Workers' Sports Association and in 1936 travelled with the British delegation to the People's Olympiad
People's Olympiad
The People's Olympiad was a planned international multi-sport event that was intended to take place in Barcelona, the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia within the Spanish Republic...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. During the Second World War, Underhill refused to fight, citing his socialism, however served in the National Fire Service
National Fire Service
The National Fire Service was the single fire service created in Great Britain in 1941 during the Second World War; a separate National Fire Service was created in 1942....
in London, often acting as a driver.
In 1945, after the end of the war, he was assistant to Morgan Phillips
Morgan Phillips
Morgan Walter Phillips was a colliery worker and trade union activist who became the General Secretary of the British Labour Party, involved in two of the party's election victories....
, at that time the General Secretary of the Labour Party
General Secretary of the Labour Party
The General Secretary is the most senior employee of the British Labour Party, and acts as the non-voting secretary to the National Executive Committee...
. He was then administrative assistant to the party's national agent until 1947 and worked as propaganda officer until the next year. From 1948, Underhill served as Labour's regional organiser in the West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
until 1960, when he was chosen assistant national agent.
1972, he became finally the National Agent of the Labour Party. Underhill was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in the Birthday's Honours 1976 and on his retirement from his post in 1979, he was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
with the title Baron Underhill, of Leyton, in Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
on 12 July. He became Labour's Opposition front bench spokesman on transport in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in 1980 and on electoral affairs in 1983. On the resignation of Cledwyn Hughes
Cledwyn Hughes
Cledwyn Hughes, Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos, CH, PC, , was a Welsh Labour politician.Born in Holyhead and educated at the Holyhead Grammar School and at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, he served in the RAFVR in the Second World War. He became a solicitor and a town clerk of Holyhead...
in 1982, Underhill was elected deputy leader of Labour in the House, a post he held until 1989. He was a founding member of the reformed Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff
Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff
The Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff was a British trade union which was formed in 1890 as the Clerks Union and later was renamed as the National Union of Clerks...
and received the union's goldmedal.
Family
He married Flora Philbrick in 1937. Underhill died in a hospital in EppingEpping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
in 1993 and left a daughter, Joan, and two sons, Terry and Bob.