John Timmons

John Timmons (14 May 1890 – 21 November 1964) was a British coalminer and Laour Party politician.

Miner

Born in north Lanarkshire, 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.

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 Navy 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.

Parliament

Timmons was elected as Labour Member of Parliament 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.

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 2 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.

References

• M. Stenton and S. Lees, "Who's Who of British MPs" Vol. IV (Harvester Press, 1981)
• Obituary, The Times, 23 November, 1964.