John Timmons
Encyclopedia
John Timmons was a British
coalminer and Labour Party
politician.
, Timmons went to St Aloysius School, Chapelhall but went down the mines at the age of 13. He worked at the coal face but was later promoted to the job of checkweighman, and studied at Coatbridge Technical College. An active member of the Miners' Federation, Timmons also joined the Labour Party
. He was Branch Secretary of his union for 30 years.
in 1939 and served throughout the Second World War, being mentioned in despatches for his work at Dunkirk
. At the end of the war he was working at the Admiralty headquarters in London.
for Bothwell
at the 1945 general election
. At Westminster Timmons rarely spoke. He was a member of the left-wing faction who disapproved of the continuation of National Service
and supported Aneurin Bevan
in the early 1950s. A Roman Catholic, in 1949 Timmons voted against the Ireland Bill
which gave the Parliament of Northern Ireland
a veto against the end of partition.
liner went to the Clyde shipyards rather than the Tyne. Unwell in the early 1960s, he announced his intention not to contest the next election in 1962 and retired from Parliament at the 1964 general election
, dying only a month later.
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...
coalminer and Labour Party
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.
Miner
Born in north LanarkshireLanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Timmons went to St Aloysius School, Chapelhall but went down the mines at the age of 13. He worked at the coal face but was later promoted to the job of checkweighman, and studied at Coatbridge Technical College. An active member of the Miners' Federation, Timmons also joined the Labour Party
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...
. He was Branch Secretary of his union for 30 years.
Advancement
In 1938 Timmons was elected to Lanarkshire County Council. He had several local administrative responsibilities, including being on the panel of referees for the Ministry of Labour, and a member of the advisory committee to the Assistance Board. He joined the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1939 and served throughout the Second World War, being mentioned in despatches for his work at Dunkirk
Operation Dynamo
The Dunkirk evacuation, commonly known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo by the British, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France, between 26 May and the early hours of 3 June 1940, because the British, French and Belgian troops were...
. At the end of the war he was working at the Admiralty headquarters in London.
Parliament
Timmons was elected as Labour Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Bothwell
Bothwell (UK Parliament constituency)
Bothwell was a county constituency in Lanarkshire represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1983. It was formed by the division of Lanarkshire constituency.- Boundaries :...
at the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
. At Westminster Timmons rarely spoke. He was a member of the left-wing faction who disapproved of the continuation of National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
and supported Aneurin Bevan
Aneurin Bevan
Aneurin "Nye" Bevan was a British Labour Party politician who was the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1959 until his death in 1960. The son of a coal miner, Bevan was a lifelong champion of social justice and the rights of working people...
in the early 1950s. A Roman Catholic, in 1949 Timmons voted against the Ireland Bill
Ireland Act 1949
The Ireland Act 1949 is a British Act of Parliament that was intended to deal with the consequences of the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 as passed by the Irish parliament...
which gave the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
a veto against the end of partition.
Later career
His rebellious tendencies eased later in the 1950s, although in 1957 he joined a group calling for no retreat on the policy of nationalisation. He played his part in ensuring that the contract for the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the QE2, is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Istithmar...
liner went to the Clyde shipyards rather than the Tyne. Unwell in the early 1960s, he announced his intention not to contest the next election in 1962 and retired from Parliament at the 1964 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1964
The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power...
, dying only a month later.