Leavey's father George was chairman of Smith & Nephew, then an engineering firm who had not yet specialised in medical devices. He went to Mill Hill School and then Trinity Hall, Cambridge, before returning to east Lancashire where he became a director of companies involved in the weaving and matchmaking industries in Colne and Rawtenstall.
War serviceedit
As the Second World War loomed, Leavey joined up and served in the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in France and Belgium; he only just escaped at Dunkirk, being one of the last to be evacuated. On arriving back in Britain the regiment underwent training in the midlands where Leavey organised a pack of fox hounds with which to go fox hunting. He was pleased to return to liberate France after D Day, fighting through to the end of the war. He was mentioned in despatches and reached the rank of Major. After demobilisation in 1946, Leavey was employed by the family firm of Smith and Nephew and became a Director in 1948. He joined the Yorkshire Hussars in the Territorial Army as a Major in 1952, but left in 1955.
Politicsedit
At the 1950 general election he was picked to challenge the already well-known Labour MP Barbara Castle in Blackburn East. At his second shot at the seat in 1951, he cut her majority to the point at which the seat looked vulnerable. Instead of fighting again, he was selected for Heywood and Royton, a Conservative seat where the sitting MP was retiring.
Parliamentary careeredit
Leavey won at the 1955 general election. He was a strong supporter of the government over the Suez Crisis and attacked nearby Labour MPs for supporting Gamal Abdel Nasser, being rewarded with appointment as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Walter Monckton for one year from 1956 and later to Derick Heathcoat Amory in 1959; however, his loyalty did not stretch to accepting what he saw as government indifference to the local cotton industry. When his pressure resulted in the passing of the Cotton Industry Act 1959, it was felt to have aided his campaign locally; despite it, in 1962, he was one of five Conservative MPs to support a Labour motion of censure on the subject.
Some of Leavey's campaigns attracted attention, with his call for an end to the teaching of Latin in schools among them. He was insistent that he knew there had been flying saucers over Lancashire, and wanted girls who went topless to be arrested. He supported Anthony Wedgwood Benn in his campaign to allow peers to renounce their titles. In 1961 he was made Secretary to the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers.
When Prime Minister Harold Macmillan sacked seven members of his cabinet in the "Night of the Long Knives" in 1962, Leavey praised him for being ruthless with colleagues when necessary. He had a tough fight at the 1964 general election, as Labour had his seat as a target. Leavey, who had a major operation shortly before the election, was ultimately unable by 818 votes to retain it.
Business appointmentsedit
After leaving Parliament he paid more attention to his work at Smith and Nephew (which had continued in the background during his career, and seen him appointed deputy chairman in 1962) and also became Chairman of Wilson (Connolly) Holdings, a midlands-based firm of builders. He had other business interests and was a member of the South East London Industrial Tribunal from 1978 to 1984. In 1982 he wrote (together with Richard Bennett) an official history of Smith and Nephew from its foundation in 1856.
Recreationsedit
Enthusiastic about country activities, Leavey continued to enjoy fox hunting and also took part in point-to-point races. He was a council member of the Outward Bound Trust from 1974 to 1992 and also became a trustee of the Kurt Hahn Trust in 1987. He also enjoyed fishing.
Referencesedit
Who Was Who, A&C Black
Obituary by John Barnes, The Independent, 15 September 1999.
tony, leavey, john, anthony, leavey, march, 1915, july, 1999, british, company, director, conservative, politician, contents, family, business, service, politics, parliamentary, career, business, appointments, recreations, referencesfamily, business, editleave. John Anthony Leavey 3 March 1915 9 July 1999 was a British company director and Conservative politician Contents 1 Family business 2 War service 3 Politics 4 Parliamentary career 5 Business appointments 6 Recreations 7 ReferencesFamily business editLeavey s father George was chairman of Smith amp Nephew then an engineering firm who had not yet specialised in medical devices He went to Mill Hill School and then Trinity Hall Cambridge before returning to east Lancashire where he became a director of companies involved in the weaving and matchmaking industries in Colne and Rawtenstall War service editAs the Second World War loomed Leavey joined up and served in the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in France and Belgium he only just escaped at Dunkirk being one of the last to be evacuated On arriving back in Britain the regiment underwent training in the midlands where Leavey organised a pack of fox hounds with which to go fox hunting He was pleased to return to liberate France after D Day fighting through to the end of the war He was mentioned in despatches and reached the rank of Major After demobilisation in 1946 Leavey was employed by the family firm of Smith and Nephew and became a Director in 1948 He joined the Yorkshire Hussars in the Territorial Army as a Major in 1952 but left in 1955 Politics editAt the 1950 general election he was picked to challenge the already well known Labour MP Barbara Castle in Blackburn East At his second shot at the seat in 1951 he cut her majority to the point at which the seat looked vulnerable Instead of fighting again he was selected for Heywood and Royton a Conservative seat where the sitting MP was retiring Parliamentary career editLeavey won at the 1955 general election He was a strong supporter of the government over the Suez Crisis and attacked nearby Labour MPs for supporting Gamal Abdel Nasser being rewarded with appointment as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Walter Monckton for one year from 1956 and later to Derick Heathcoat Amory in 1959 however his loyalty did not stretch to accepting what he saw as government indifference to the local cotton industry When his pressure resulted in the passing of the Cotton Industry Act 1959 it was felt to have aided his campaign locally despite it in 1962 he was one of five Conservative MPs to support a Labour motion of censure on the subject Some of Leavey s campaigns attracted attention with his call for an end to the teaching of Latin in schools among them He was insistent that he knew there had been flying saucers over Lancashire and wanted girls who went topless to be arrested He supported Anthony Wedgwood Benn in his campaign to allow peers to renounce their titles In 1961 he was made Secretary to the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers When Prime Minister Harold Macmillan sacked seven members of his cabinet in the Night of the Long Knives in 1962 Leavey praised him for being ruthless with colleagues when necessary He had a tough fight at the 1964 general election as Labour had his seat as a target Leavey who had a major operation shortly before the election was ultimately unable by 818 votes to retain it Business appointments editAfter leaving Parliament he paid more attention to his work at Smith and Nephew which had continued in the background during his career and seen him appointed deputy chairman in 1962 and also became Chairman of Wilson Connolly Holdings a midlands based firm of builders He had other business interests and was a member of the South East London Industrial Tribunal from 1978 to 1984 In 1982 he wrote together with Richard Bennett an official history of Smith and Nephew from its foundation in 1856 Recreations editEnthusiastic about country activities Leavey continued to enjoy fox hunting and also took part in point to point races He was a council member of the Outward Bound Trust from 1974 to 1992 and also became a trustee of the Kurt Hahn Trust in 1987 He also enjoyed fishing References editWho Was Who A amp C Black Obituary by John Barnes The Independent 15 September 1999 Parliament of the United KingdomPreceded bySir Harold Sutcliffe Member of Parliament for Heywood and Royton1955 1964 Succeeded byJoel Barnett Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tony Leavey amp oldid 1213022758, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
