He was born at Newbridge, Monmouthshire on 17 March 1904, the son of John West and Elizabeth Bridges. He was educated at Newbridge Grammar School and the University College of South Wales, Cardiff, where he studied law and took the departmental first prize. West qualified as a solicitor in 1929. He served in the RAF during World War II, becoming a flight-lieutenant in the RAFVR. He served as a member of the Abercarn UDC, 1934-38, and the Monmouthshire CC, 1938-47. He was elected Labour MP for the Pontypool division in a by-election in July 1946, continuing to serve until he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Granville-West of Pontypool in 1958. His successor as Labour MP for Pontypool was Leo Abse. West served as president of the South Wales and Monmouthshire branch of the Probation Officers' Association, was a PPS, 1950-51, to J. Chuter Ede, the Home Secretary, and he was also chairman of the Advisory Council on Civil Aviation in Wales. He was a senior partner in D. Granville West, Chivers and Morgan, solicitors, based at Newbridge and Pontypool. He married on 12 January 1937 Vera, the daughter of J. Hopkins of Pontypool. They had one son and one daughter and lived at Brynderwen, Abersychan, Pontypool. Baron Granville-West died on 23 September 1984 and was buried at Panteg cemetery.
Published date: 2009-07-27
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
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