British Statesman, Born in Abertillery in South Wales, he left school at the age of fourteen, to become a booking clerk with the Great Western Railway. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Engineers and, in 1943, was promoted to Staff Captain, where he oversaw the transport of arms from Iraq to the Soviet Union. In 1945, he was elected to Parliament, representing Essex South; this, however, was not a safe seat, so, in 1950, he transferred to Doncaster, in Yorkshire, but was defeated the following year. He stood again, unsuccessfully, in 1955 at Doncaster, but, in 1959, was elected at Southwark, in South London. When the Labour Party returned to government in 1964, under the leadership of Harold Wilson, he joined the Cabinet as Minister of Labour. In April 1968, he was moved to the Ministry of Power; but, two months later, he resigned from the Cabinet. He continued to sit in Parliament until February 1972, when he resigned his seat, largely because his pro-European views were at odds with the leadership of his party; at the subsequent by-election, the seat was held for Labour by Harry Lambourn, a fervent anti-Marketeer. Like Wilson, Gunter had a cottage on St. Mary's Island on the Scillies, and it was in that cottage (Y Bwythen Bach, in Launceston Close) that he died.
British Statesman, Born in Abertillery in South Wales, he left school at the age of fourteen, to become a booking clerk with the Great Western Railway. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Engineers and, in 1943, was promoted to Staff Captain, where he oversaw the transport of arms from Iraq to the Soviet Union. In 1945, he was elected to Parliament, representing Essex South; this, however, was not a safe seat, so, in 1950, he transferred to Doncaster, in Yorkshire, but was defeated the following year. He stood again, unsuccessfully, in 1955 at Doncaster, but, in 1959, was elected at Southwark, in South London. When the Labour Party returned to government in 1964, under the leadership of Harold Wilson, he joined the Cabinet as Minister of Labour. In April 1968, he was moved to the Ministry of Power; but, two months later, he resigned from the Cabinet. He continued to sit in Parliament until February 1972, when he resigned his seat, largely because his pro-European views were at odds with the leadership of his party; at the subsequent by-election, the seat was held for Labour by Harry Lambourn, a fervent anti-Marketeer. Like Wilson, Gunter had a cottage on St. Mary's Island on the Scillies, and it was in that cottage (Y Bwythen Bach, in Launceston Close) that he died.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
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