John Beavan, Baron Ardwick
British journalist (1910–1994)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Cowburn Beavan, Baron Ardwick (9 April 1910 – 18 August 1994) was a British journalist, Labour life peer and Member of the European Parliament. He began his journalistic career in local newspapers before a long associations with The Guardian and Mirror. He was a staunch Labour supporter and was appointed as a life peer by Harold Wilson in 1970, namely to represent journalism in the House of Lords.
9 April 1910
The Lord Ardwick | |
|---|---|
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal | |
| In office 16 January 1970 – 18 August 1994 Life Peerage | |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 1975–1979 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Cowburn Beavan 9 April 1910 Manchester, England |
| Died | 18 August 1994 (aged 84) London, England |
| Party | Labour |
| Spouse |
Gladys Jones (m. 1934) |
| Children | 2 (including Matthew Symonds) |
| Relatives | Carrie Johnson (granddaughter) |
| Alma mater | Manchester Grammar School |
| Occupation | Politician, editor, reporter |
Early life and education
Beavan was born at Ardwick, in Manchester, on 9 April 1910, a son of Silas Morgan Beavan (1881–1964; of Welsh origin and a miner, later greengrocer)[1] and Emily Esther (née Hussey; 1882–1972), who from 'humble origins' went on to serve as a Manchester City Councillor, alderman, and justice of the peace, and was a campaigner for women's rights.[2][3] Beavan was educated at Manchester Grammar School.[4]
Career
Beavan's early career involved work at a number of newspapers, including the Manchester Evening Chronicle, the Blackpool Times, and the Evening Standard.[3] In 1943, he became editor of the Manchester Evening News.[3] Between 1946 and 1955, he was London editor of The Guardian.[5] For two years, 1960 to 1962, he was editor of the Daily Herald, then becoming political advisor to the Mirror Group, a post he retained until 1976.[6] He was a Labour Member of the European Parliament from 1975 to 1979.[5]
On 16 January 1970, he was created a life peer as Baron Ardwick, of Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.[7]
Personal life
He married Gladys Jones in 1934, with whom he adopted a daughter.[3] By Anne Symonds, a BBC World Service journalist, he was also the father of Matthew Symonds.[8] Symonds' daughter Carrie is the spouse of the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, a Conservative.[9]
On 18 August 1994, Beavan died from cancer at Parkside Hospital in Wimbledon, London, at the age of 84.[3]
Arms
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