Michael Noble (English politician)

Michael Alfred Noble (10 March 1935–12 March 1983) was a British Labour Party politician.

Early life

Noble was the son of Alfred "Bunny" Noble and Olive Noble (née Earle), a bricklayer and a school cook respectively. He was born in a small village near Hull. He was the first child in his school to pass the 11+ exam, and to celebrate his achievement the whole school got a day off. He attended Hull Grammar School and was a keen athlete, winning the Victor Ludorum in his senior years. He was always proud of his background, particularly of the fact that his mother insisted he continue at school beyond the school leaving age and worked extra hours to ensure the family could afford this, as she did for both of his younger brothers, who also followed him to the grammar school. He went to Sheffield University, initially intending to read geography, until his colour blindness forced him into a change of subject. He therefore read economics.

Teaching career

For his National Service Mike chose to become a teacher and pursued this course subsequently by becoming a lecturer for the WEA, for whom he lectured in industrial relations. As a consequence of this career he moved from Yorkshire to Burnley in Lancashire, where his two younger children were born. He was always a supporter of the Labour Party and was elected for the local council, becoming the Chair of the Education Committee.

Parliamentary career

He first stood for parliament in 1970 when he contested the Withington constituency, but was unsuccessful. He was then was selected for the Rossendale constituency and, despite narrowly being defeated in the February election, Noble was elected Member of Parliament for the marginal Rossendale seat in the October 1974 general election, but lost the seat to the Conservative candidate David Trippier in 1979.

While a Member of Parliament Noble served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Roy Hattersley (now Lord Hattersley), in his position as Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection.

Back to teaching

After losing his seat in the Conservative landslide of 1979, Noble returned to his roots as an educationalist, working first for Blackburn College and then for Burnley College.

Personal life

He married Brenda Peak in December 1956 and their first child, Julie, was born the following December, followed in November 1963 by Gary and in January 1970 by Michelle (Shelley).

He was fanatical about sport, namely cricket and football - both of which he was qualified to coach - and it was whilst watching Burnley playing Sheffield at Turf Moor that he had his fatal heart attack. This was despite having had no warnings or symptoms of any problems and being the relatively young age 48.

References

• Times Guide to the House of Commons 1979
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 2)

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Michael Noble