Abraham Montagu Lyons

Abraham Montagu Lyons (10 February 1894 - 29 November 1961[1]) was an English lawyer, judge, politician and author who served as a Conservative member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Leicester East (UK Parliament constituency), and as Recorder of Great Grimsby.

Contents

Background

Lyons was the only son of Rabinovitch Lyons of West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.[2] He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 23 October 1914.[3]

Legal career

Lyons was called to the Middle Temple on 28 June 1922, at which time he was a solicitor living in West Bridgford;[4] became "leader" of the Midland circuit,[5] and "took silk" in 1933. In 1936 he was appointed Recorder of Great Grimsby[6] He was said to have been one of the few Jewish judges in 1930s England to take an active role in the Jewish community.[7]

Service in Parliament

Lyons was elected in the 1931 general election, unseating Labour incumbent Edward Frank Wise. He was re-elected in the 1935 election, but was defeated in the postwar election of 1945 by Labourite Terence Norbert Donovan.

Writings

He was the author of The Law and Procedure Relating to Bastardy Orders (London: Stevens and Sons, 1923) and (with S.W. Magnus) of Advertisement Control (Leigh-on-Sea: Thames Bank, 1949), a commentary on the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, and on the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations, 1948.

World War II service

On 5 July 1938, he was granted a commission as Squadron Leader and appointed to the command of the No. 910 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force.[8] He is referred to in Hansard as "Major Lyons"[9] but in his last appearance in that record (April 12, 1945) is referred to as "Colonel Lyons"; the latter may have been a brevet commission.[10]

Later years

From 1959-1960 he served as Master of the Livery for the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers.[11]

References

  1. ^ Leigh Rayment listing
  2. ^ Sturgess, H.A.C. and Middle Temple (London, England). Register of admissions to the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, from the fifteenth century to the year 1944 London, Published for the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple by Butterworth, 1949; Vol. 3, p. 864
  3. ^ London Gazette 23 October 1914
  4. ^ Sturgess, H.A.C. and Middle Temple (London, England). Register of admissions to the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, from the fifteenth century to the year 1944 London, Published for the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple by Butterworth, 1949; Vol. 3, p. 864
  5. ^ "OBITUARY: Mr. Abraham Montague Lyons QC" Justice of the Peace and Local Government Review, Volume 125, p. 2314
  6. ^ "Appointments and Honours" The Law Times Vol. 182, p. 112
  7. ^ Cooper, John. Pride versus prejudice : Jewish doctors and lawyers in England, 1890-1990 Portland, Ore. : Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, 2003; pp. 129, 133.
  8. ^ London Gazette 29 November, 1938; p. 7535
  9. ^ Hansard index
  10. ^ Written Answers (Commons) "CEYLON (PLANTATION WORKERS, WAGES)" HC Deb 12 April 1945 vol 409 cc2000-1W
  11. ^ "List of Masters" Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers