Harold Finch
Sir Harold Josiah Finch (2 May 1898 – 16 July 1979), OBE was a Welsh Labour Party politician born in Barry, Glamorgan, the elder son of Josiah Coleman Finch and Emmie Finch (née Keedwell).[1]
Early life
[edit]Finch attended Gladstone Road Elementary School in Barry and 'was brought up in a very religious atmosphere'[2] because his father was a Sunday-school teacher at the Wesleyan Chapel in Barry and his mother had a strong evangelical outlook. However, because of his father, he was also brought up in an atmosphere of trade unionism and politics. His father became the Secretary of the Barry branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants[3] and later held many local political posts. For example, in 1919 he was appointed the first Labour member to represent Barry on Glamorgan County Council; he was the first secretary of Barry Labour Party; he was elected a member of Barry Borough Council. Also, he became a magistrate.
Early career
[edit]Finch left school at the age of 14 and in 1912 he obtained a job as a clerk in the Barry Railway Company[4][5]. Shortly afterwards he wanted to work in the Trade Union Movement. Consequently, about 1916 he obtained a job as a clerk in the Tredegar Valley miners' offices in Blackwood, to which he moved and lived in lodgings. Evening classes were held in the offices, which he attended and for which he undertook secretarial duties.[6] While attending the classes he met Aneurin Bevan, who was then working in Ty Trist Colliery, Tredegar.
Political career
[edit]In 1928 Finch was elected as a member of Mynyddislwyn District Council|[7] and in 1931 he was elected as its Chairman[8]. In 1949 a deputation of miners visited him and asked him if he would accept a nomination to be selected for the imminent vacancy for the Member of Parliament for Bedwellty.[9] He was duly elected in the 1950 general election and was Under-secretary of State at the Welsh Office from 1964 to 1966 during Harold Wilson's first administration.
Finch held the seat until he retired from the House of Commons at the 1970 general election. He was succeeded by Neil Kinnock, who became the leader of the Labour Party.
In 1972 Finch had his memoirs published.[10] Shortly afterwards, at the recommendation of John Morris, the Labour MP for Aberavon[11], he was knighted in the 1976 Birthday Honours for his services to British politics and the trade union movement. He was the first Freeman of Islwyn Borough Council and the Sir Harold Finch Park in Pontllanfraith was created in his honour.
He died on 16 July 1979 in Newport, aged 81.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ Finch, Harold (1972). Memoirs of a Bedwellty MP. Risca, Newport: The Starling Press. p. 8.
- ^ Finch, p.9
- ^ Finch, p. 10
- ^ Finch, p. 12
- ^ Dictionary of Welsh Biography, entry for 'Finch, Harold Josiah (1898-1979), Labour politician'.
- ^ Finch, p. 21
- ^ Finch, p. 91
- ^ Finch, p. 92
- ^ Finch, p.93
- ^ Finch, Harold (1972). Memoirs of a Bedwellty MP. Risca, Newport: Starling Press.
- ^ Morrris, John (2011). Fifty years in politics and the law. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-7083-2418-9. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
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