John Gallacher

The Right Honourable
The Lord Gallacher
Personal details
Born John Gallacher
7 May 1920
Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Died 4 January 2004 (aged 83)
Kent, England
Nationality British
Political party Labour Co-operative

John Gallacher, Baron Gallacher (7 May 1920 4 January 2004) was a British co-operative official and politician.

Gallacher born in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, was educated at St. Patrick's High School, Dumbarton and worked for Vale of Leven Co-operative Society before World War II. He served in the Royal Air Force then joined the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (SCWS) in Dumbarton as a trainee in Glasgow.[1] In 1949, he was sent on a SCWS scholarship to the Co-operative College in Loughborough for two years and gained a Co-operative Secretary's Diploma (CSD).[2] He went on to work as assistant educational secretary at the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society in South London, and then moved to be education secretary with the Enfield Highway Co-operative Society.[1] He was then the Southern Sectional Secretary of the Co-operative Union, leaving for a short while to be labour advisor to the Motor Agents' Association before returning to the Union.[2] After joining the International Co-operative Alliance as Administrative Officer he became Parliamentary Secretary to the Co-operative Union in 1973, gaining profile and parliamentary support for the movement.[1]

Gallacher was created Baron Gallacher, of Enfield in Greater London, on 28 March 1983,[3] on the recommendation of Lord Jacques. He sat as a Labour Co-operative peer and from 1985 to 1992, he served as a Labour whip in the House of Lords. He spoke with authority on European matters.[1] In addition, he was for a period President of the Institute of Meat.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lord Gallacher of Enfield, stalwart of Co-operative movement, The Scotsman, 11 February 2004.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Graham, E., "Peers of the Past", The Co-operative News, 27 May 2008.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 49306. p. 4470. 31 March 1983. Retrieved 20 June 2009.