Gerry Fowler

Gerald Teasdale Fowler (1 January 1935 – 1 May 1993), commonly known as Gerry Fowler, was a British Labour Party politician and university academic.

Fowler was the son of James A. Fowler (died 1964) of Long Buckby, Northamptonshire,[1] and his wife Alfreda.[2]

Fowler was educated at Northampton Grammar School (where he was a friend of Bernard Donoughue) Lincoln College, Oxford, and Frankfurt University. He was a university lecturer, a councillor on Oxford City Council 1960-64 and branch secretary of the Oxford branch of ASSET.

Fowler contested Banbury at the 1964 general election. At the 1966 general election, he was elected as Member of Parliament for the marginal seat of The Wrekin, with a majority of 846 votes and poster slogan of "follow Fowler"[3] but lost it at the 1970 election to the Conservative candidate Anthony ('Tony') Trafford. He regained his seat at the next opportunity in February 1974 and held it in October 1974. However, at the 1979 general election he was defeated again, this time by the Conservative Warren Hawksley.

After two years as a Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Technology, Fowler was the Minister of State for Education and Science from 1969 to 1970. He was there again for spells in 1974 and 1976, in between which times he was Minister of State for the Privy Council Office from 1974 to 1976.

Fowler, who lived in Wellington, Shropshire[4] within his constituency, also served in local government in the area as a member of Wrekin District Council, from 1973 to 1976, serving as the Council's Leader in 1973-74, and also sat in Shropshire County Council from 1979 to 1985.[5]

Fowler had a career in university education outside parliament, having lectured at Oxford University before his election. He was Assistant Director of Huddersfield Polytechnic from 1970 to 1972, Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde from 1970 to 1974, Professor of Educational Studies at the Open University from 1972 to 1974,[1] Associate Professor of Government at Brunel University from 1977 to 1980, then Deputy Director of Preston Polytechnic from 1980 to 1981.[5] Ultimately he was Rector of the Polytechnic of East London from 1982 to 1992.[3]

He was twice married. Firstly in 1968 to Julie, daughter of Wilfrid Brining of Slough,[1] and secondly in 1982 to Lorna, daughter of William Lloyd, of Preston, Lancashire.[6] Fowler died of cancer at his home in Regent's Park, London,[3] on 1 May (coincidentally Labour Day) 1993 aged 58, and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kelly's Handbook 1977. Kelly's Directories Ltd. p. 527.
  2. 1 2 "Shropshire Star". 6 May 1993. p. 31.His death notice.
  3. 1 2 3 "Wrekin's former MP dies at 58". Shropshire Star. 3 May 1993. p. 1.
  4. ↑ Kelly's Handbook, 1977.Address given as in St Chad's Close, Wellington.
  5. 1 2 Who's Who, 1992. A. and C. Black. p. 645.
  6. ↑ Who's Who, 1992.The first marriage is not mentioned in Who's Who of that year.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
William Yates		 Member of Parliament for The Wrekin
1966–1970 		Succeeded by
Anthony Trafford
Preceded by
Anthony Trafford		 Member of Parliament for The Wrekin
Feb 1974–1979 		Succeeded by
Warren Hawksley
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