Socialist Politician, Member of British Parliament. He was the Labour Member of Parliament for Preston North for nine years, and became a well-known figure on the left wing of the Party. Son of a Welsh butcher, he became a railway worker and later an English teacher, before becoming a Labour councillor in Braintree, Essex. He tried to enter Parliament in 1964, with an attempt at the seat of Lowestoft, which he lost to incumbent Conservative minister, Jim Prior. In 1966 he was elected Member for Preston North and became an active campaigner for voluntary retirement, and lowering the retirement age. He championed causes such as membership of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and opposition to war, which he campaigned against his entire life. He opposed incomes policies, called for more state ownership and help for the less well-off, opposed membership of the EEC and backed cuts in defence spending. Many of Preston's substantial Catholic population took a dim view of his support for David Steel's abortion bill and he thought it might have him cost him the 1970 election. He was more careful thereafter and retained his seat until the 1979 election. After this, he returned to teaching and returned to local politics, being elected to the local council in 1980, where he served for a further thirty years, during which time he was a powerful voice for the creation of Lancashire Polytechnic in Preston in 1984 and its evolution to full status as the University of Central Lancashire in 1992.
Socialist Politician, Member of British Parliament. He was the Labour Member of Parliament for Preston North for nine years, and became a well-known figure on the left wing of the Party. Son of a Welsh butcher, he became a railway worker and later an English teacher, before becoming a Labour councillor in Braintree, Essex. He tried to enter Parliament in 1964, with an attempt at the seat of Lowestoft, which he lost to incumbent Conservative minister, Jim Prior. In 1966 he was elected Member for Preston North and became an active campaigner for voluntary retirement, and lowering the retirement age. He championed causes such as membership of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and opposition to war, which he campaigned against his entire life. He opposed incomes policies, called for more state ownership and help for the less well-off, opposed membership of the EEC and backed cuts in defence spending. Many of Preston's substantial Catholic population took a dim view of his support for David Steel's abortion bill and he thought it might have him cost him the 1970 election. He was more careful thereafter and retained his seat until the 1979 election. After this, he returned to teaching and returned to local politics, being elected to the local council in 1980, where he served for a further thirty years, during which time he was a powerful voice for the creation of Lancashire Polytechnic in Preston in 1984 and its evolution to full status as the University of Central Lancashire in 1992.
Bio by: Turnpike
Inscription
RONALD HENRY ATKINS
Socialist
13.6.1916 - 30.12.2020
Aged 104 years
Loving Husband and Father
Former Preston MP and City Councillor
A life of service to others
Advertisement
See more Atkins memorials in:
Advertisement
