LANG, GORDON (1893-1981), Labour politician and nonconformist minister

He was born on 25 February 1893, the son of T. W. Lang JP of Monmouth. He was educated at Monmouth Grammar School and Cheshunt College, before entering the nonconformist ministry. In 1930 Lang was appointed honorary chaplain to the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain and Ireland, he was a lecturer in adult education to H. M. Forces during World War II. He sat as the senior Labour MP for Oldham from May 1929 until his defeat in the general election of October 1931 when his party was decimated at the polls. He again contested Oldham unsuccessfully in the general election of November 1935 and stood in a by-election for the Stalybridge and Hyde division of Cheshire in April 1937. He captured that division in the general election of July 1945 and represented the division until his retirement from parliament in the general election of October 1951. His aim was to combine pastoral work with a wide range of political activity.

Lang was chairman of the Parliamentary Federal Union and of the Proportional Representation Society, 1947-51, and joint-secretary of the United Europe Movement. He was vice-president of the International Youth Bureau, 1946-56. He was a member of the council of the Hansard Society, 1948-54, and an executive member of the International Union of Parliamentarians, 1946-51. Following his retirement from parliament, he was a member of the Cwmbran New Town Corporation, 1955-64, and served as the minister of Pen-y-waun Church, Cwmbran, 1956-77. He published a biography of Mr Justice Avory in 1935 (the year of its subject's death), Modern Epistles (1952) and Mind behind Murder (1960). He also published a number of works of fiction and many works and papers on applied psychology and criminology. He was highly regarded as a criminologist and specialist on prison reform. He married on 12 September 1916 Emily (or Emilie) Anne, the daughter of J. W. Evans of Leechpool, Chepstow, and they had one son and one daughter. They lived at Wycliffe, Chepstow, Monmouth and 6 Bigstone Grove, Tutshill, Chepstow. He died on 20 June 1981 and was cremated at Gwent Crematorium, Croesyceiliog

Author

• Dr John Graham Jones

Sources

• Who was who?
• Dod's Parliamentary Companion
• The Times, 24 June 1981

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Gordon Lang

Additional Links

• VIAF: 18145003658661340802
• Wikidata: Q5585440

Published date: 2008-07-30

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/