Ronald Joseph Ledger (7 November 1920 – 11 December 2004)[1] was a Labour Co-operative politician in the United Kingdom.
Early life
Ledger was born in Tunbridge Wells and was raised in a Barnardo's orphanage after his father abandoned the family in 1923, during which time he was separated from his brother, sister, and pregnant mother.[2] He was educated at Skinner's Grammar School and then at the University of Nottingham,[3] where he founded the University's Labour Club and was its first chairman from 1948 to 1949.[3]
He served with the Royal Air Force from 1942 to 1947.[3]
Politics
Ledger unsuccessfully contested Rushcliffe at the 1951 general election,[3] and was a member of Hertfordshire County Council from 1952 to 1954.[3]
He was elected at the 1955 general election as the Labour Co-operative Member of Parliament (MP) for Romford,[4] and held the seat until he retired from Parliament at the 1970 general election.[3]
Ledger was a director of the London Co-operative Society from 1961.[3] He was later the owner of a casino, and served as chairman of the Hairdressing Council from 1966.[3]
References
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 2)
- ^ http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/news/nostalgia_barnardo_s_boy_elected_as_romford_mp_1_2301751
- ^ a b c d e f g h Stenton, Michael; Lees, Stephens (1981). Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume IV, 1945–1979. Brighton: The Harvester Press. pp. 212–3. ISBN 0-85527-335-6.
- ^ "No. 4049". The London Gazette. 31 May 1955. p. 3152.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Ron Ledger
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Cutts Lockwood | Member of Parliament for Romford 1955–1970 | Succeeded by Dick Leonard |