Derek Enright
Encyclopedia
Derek Anthony Enright was a Labour
politician in the United Kingdom
.
, he attended the (Roman Catholic) St Michael's College on St John's Road in Leeds (now merged with Mount St Mary's Catholic High School
), then a grammar school
. He was educated at Wadham College, Oxford
, gaining a BA
in Classics and a DipEd
, and worked as a school teacher of classics at The John Fisher School
, a grammar school in Purley
from 1959-67.
(MEP) for Leeds
in 1979, staying until 1984. He was British Labour group spokesman on third world affairs and women's rights, and was later an EC delegate in Guinea Bissau. He contested Kent East
in the 1984 European election.
He was Member of Parliament
(MP) for Hemsworth
in West Yorkshire
from a by-election
in 1991 until his death.
songs "Yellow Submarine
" and "Eleanor Rigby
" in Latin
.
In fact, Derek Enright sang Yellow Submarine in the House Of Commons when the Education Reform Bill was being argued. During this time, Derek spoke only in Latin, and when challenged by a Conservative that "he might be able to speak Latin, but he cannot sing Latin", Enright immediately stood up and sang "Yellow Submarine" — much to the surprise of the house. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Geoffrey Lofthouse, then asked him to stop. It is forbidden to sing in the House of Commons.
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Early life
Born in Thornaby-on-TeesThornaby-on-Tees
Thornaby-on-Tees is a town and civil parish within the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is on the south bank of the River Tees, three miles southeast of Stockton-on-Tees, and four miles southwest of Middlesbrough town centre and has a...
, he attended the (Roman Catholic) St Michael's College on St John's Road in Leeds (now merged with Mount St Mary's Catholic High School
Mount St Mary's Catholic High School (Leeds)
-Admissions:It is a faith school for ages 11-16 in Richmond Hill. Catholic education after 16 is found at Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College . It is just north of the A61, next to the derelict church of which opened in 1857, closed in 1989 and has now been vandalised...
), then a grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
. He was educated at Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
, gaining a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Classics and a DipEd
Diploma of Education
The Diploma of Education, often abbreviated to DipEd or GradDipEd, is a postgraduate qualification offered in many Commonwealth countries including Australia, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom...
, and worked as a school teacher of classics at The John Fisher School
The John Fisher School
The John Fisher Old Boys Association is an exclusive members club for past pupils and teachers of The John Fisher School in Purley, Surrey.Membership of the Association is available to all former pupils of the John Fisher School and those members and former members of the School Staff who are...
, a grammar school in Purley
Purley, London
Purley is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, England. It is a suburban development situated 11.7 miles south of Charing Cross.The name derives from "pirlea", which means 'Peartree lea'. Purley has a population of about 72,000....
from 1959-67.
Parliamentary career
He was elected as a Labour Member of the European ParliamentMember of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
(MEP) for Leeds
Leeds (European Parliament constituency)
Leeds was a European Parliament constituency, centred on Leeds in the West Yorkshire area of England.Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales...
in 1979, staying until 1984. He was British Labour group spokesman on third world affairs and women's rights, and was later an EC delegate in Guinea Bissau. He contested Kent East
Kent East (European Parliament constituency)
Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales...
in the 1984 European election.
He was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Hemsworth
Hemsworth (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:- Elections in the 1990s :- Elections in the 1940s :- Elections in the 1930s :- Elections in the 1920s :...
in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
from a by-election
Hemsworth by-election, 1991
The Hemsworth by-election, 1991 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 7 November 1991 for the House of Commons constituency of Hemsworth in West Yorkshire...
in 1991 until his death.
Anecdote
He once made recordings of the BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
songs "Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine (song)
"Yellow Submarine" is a 1966 song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney , with lead vocals by Ringo Starr. It was included on the Revolver album and issued as a single, coupled with "Eleanor Rigby". The single went to number 1 on every major British chart, remained at number 1 for four weeks...
" and "Eleanor Rigby
Eleanor Rigby
"Eleanor Rigby" is a song by The Beatles, simultaneously released on the 1966 album Revolver and on a 45 rpm single. The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney...
" in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
.
In fact, Derek Enright sang Yellow Submarine in the House Of Commons when the Education Reform Bill was being argued. During this time, Derek spoke only in Latin, and when challenged by a Conservative that "he might be able to speak Latin, but he cannot sing Latin", Enright immediately stood up and sang "Yellow Submarine" — much to the surprise of the house. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Geoffrey Lofthouse, then asked him to stop. It is forbidden to sing in the House of Commons.