Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract

The Right Honourable
The Lords Lofthouse of Pontefract
Kt JP
First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means
In office
27 April 1992 – 14 May 1997
Preceded by Paul Dean
Succeeded by Michael Martin
Member of Parliament
for Pontefract and Castleford
In office
26 October 1978 – 1 May 1997
Preceded by Joseph Harper
Succeeded by Yvette Cooper
Personal details
Born (1925-12-18) 18 December 1925
Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England
Died 1 April 2012(2012-04-01) (aged 87)
Nationality British
Political party Labour

Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract, Kt JP, (18 December 1925 – 1 November 2012), popularly known in his former constituency as Geoff Lofthouse, was a British Labour politician and life peer.

Early life

He was born in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, the son of Ernest Lofthouse, a farm labourer in Micklefield, and Emma (née Fellows). His father died at the age of 35. At the age of 14, Geoff Lofthouse went down the pit at Ackton Hall Colliery in Featherstone. At age 29, he was the President of the local branch of the NUM. He went to the University of Leeds, gaining a BA in Political Studies in 1957, when he was 32 years old. In 1962, he became a councillor on Pontefract Borough Council. He was mayor of Pontefract in 1967, and leader of the council from 1969-73.

Parliamentary career

He was MP for Pontefract and Castleford from a 1978 by-election until his retirement at the 1997 general election, when he was given a life peerage as Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract, of Pontefract in the County of West Yorkshire. In the House of Commons, he served from 1992 until his retirement as a Deputy Speaker of the House to Betty Boothroyd. In the Queen's Birthday Honours 1995 Lofthouse was appointed a Knight Bachelor.[1] In the Queen's Birthday Honours 1997 Lofthouse was made a Life Peer as Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract, of Pontefract, in the county of West Yorkshire.[2][3]

Publications

His autobiography, A Very Miner MP, is available from Yorkshire Art Circus Publishers.

Personal life

He married when he was 20 years old; he and his wife Sarah had a daughter.

Death

Lord Lofthouse died on 1 November 2012, aged 86.[4]

Arms

Arms of Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract
Coronet
Coronet of a Baron
Crest
A Canary Or, holding in the dexter foot a Miner’s Lamp Sable, glazed proper.
Escutcheon
Azure, a pale, between and conjoined to two Grills throughout Or, the whole surmounted by three Chevronels Argent, overall on a Pale Sable three ellipses palewise Or.
Supporters
On either side a Mole sejant erect Sable, holding in the mouth a Rose Argent, slipped and leaved Or.
Motto
STICK AND LIFT

References

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 54066. pp. 1–32. 16 June 1995.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 54807. p. 1. 16 June 1997.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 54812. p. 1. 20 June 1997.
  4. ↑ "Former Pontefract MP Geoffrey Lofthouse dies". BBC News (BBC). 1 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Joseph Harper		 Member of Parliament for Pontefract and Castleford
1978–1997 		Succeeded by
Yvette Cooper


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