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John Forrester (politician)

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John Forrester
Born(1924-06-17)17 June 1924
Died24 November 2007(2007-11-24) (aged 83)
Stoke-on-Trent
EducationStoke-on-Trent City School of Commerce, Alsager Teacher Training College
Occupation(s)Teacher, Member of Parliament, City councillor

John Stuart Forrester (17 June 1924 – 24 November 2007) was a British Labour Party politician.

Early life and education

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Forrester was born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, and was educated at Eastwood School and the City School of Commerce in Stoke-on-Trent, and Alsager teacher training college in Cheshire.[1]

Early career

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He spent three and a half years in the Royal Navy and taught English to the Polish Resettlement Corps before becoming a teacher in the city.[2] Partly as a consequence of his experience in the armed services, Forrester remained a "steadfast Atlanticist all his political life".[3]

Political career

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Having been secretary of the local Constituency Labour Party from 1961, Forrester was Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent North from 1966 to 1987, when was deselected as Labour candidate and replaced by Joan Walley.[1]

In 1970, he was appointed as parliamentary private secretary to David Ennals, the then Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Security.[2]

Forrester was a Stoke-on-Trent City councillor for East Valley, a ward that includes parts of Smallthorne, Sneyd Green, Milton and Baddeley Green, from 1973 to 2000 and served as chairman of the authority's licensing committee.

He was made Stoke-on-Trent's 50th honorary Freeman in 1992. He also served as a Magistrate in the city.[2]

After Forrester's death, the Secretary of his local Labour Party Branch spoke of his "sense of duty, his commitment, his approachability, his warmth, and his humour".[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b The Times Guide to the House of Commons, Times Newspapers Ltd, 1966, 1983 & 1997;
  2. ^ a b c Bruce, Catherine (24 November 2007) Politicians Mourn 'Gentleman' John, The Sentinel newspaper;
  3. ^ a b Hughes, Richard (4 December 2007) Word From The Web, The Sentinel newspaper;
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent North
19661987
Succeeded by