Frank Hansford-Miller
Encyclopedia
Frank Hansford-Miller was a politician
and prolific author in both England
and Australia
.
Born in London
, Hansford-Miller, he studied at Colfe's Grammar School before serving in the Royal Artillery
during World War II
. After the war, he studied statistics
at University College London
and King's College London
. His studies were interrupted by tuberculosis
of the spine. He began working as a maths teacher, and engaged in a lengthy dispute over the rejection of his PhD by the University of London External Programme
. In 1969, he instead gained a PhD from the "National University of Canada", a degree mill. He was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society
.
In 1966, Hansford-Miller founded the John Hampden New Freedom Party and, during the 1970s, he wrote a biography of John Hampden
. In 1974, Hansford-Miller renamed the group the "English National Party
", intending to parallel the success of Plaid Cymru
and the Scottish National Party
. He stood unsuccessfully under this label in numerous elections. The party achieved greater prominence in 1976, when it was joined by John Stonehouse
, a Labour Party
Member of Parliament
who had faked his own death and spent time on remand in prison. Hansford-Miller welcomed the press to his garden shed and served them home brewed beer. During this period, he organised St George's Day
rallies in Trafalgar Square
, which he addressed while wearing a Beefeater costume, and attempted to get an English national dress selected. However, he left the party around 1980, following internal disputes. At the Greater London Council election, 1981
, Hansford-Miller and his wife instead stood for the Abolition of Rates Coalition.
Around this time, Hansford-Miller emigrated to Australia, settling in Perth
, where he began tutoring at the University of Western Australia
, Murdoch University
and Curtin University. He took up marathon
running and race walking
, setting a state record for the over-85 2000 metres walk. He also wrote prolificly, publishing more than 50 books, learned to play the digeridoo, and recorded music under the stage name "Frisky Frank".
Hansford-Miller never had children, and attracted attention in 2001 by campaigning to be cloned
, complaining that, while "reproductive technology" for women was available, there was no help available for him to reproduce.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and prolific author in both England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Hansford-Miller, he studied at Colfe's Grammar School before serving in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, he studied statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
and King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
. His studies were interrupted by tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
of the spine. He began working as a maths teacher, and engaged in a lengthy dispute over the rejection of his PhD by the University of London External Programme
University of London External Programme
The University of London International Programmes is a division of the University of London that manages external study programmes.Several colleges and institutes of the University of London offer degrees through the programme, including Birkbeck, Goldsmiths, Heythrop College, Institute of...
. In 1969, he instead gained a PhD from the "National University of Canada", a degree mill. He was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society
Royal Statistical Society
The Royal Statistical Society is a learned society for statistics and a professional body for statisticians in the UK.-History:It was founded in 1834 as the Statistical Society of London , though a perhaps unrelated London Statistical Society was in existence at least as early as 1824...
.
In 1966, Hansford-Miller founded the John Hampden New Freedom Party and, during the 1970s, he wrote a biography of John Hampden
John Hampden
John Hampden was an English politician, the eldest son of William Hampden, of Hampden House, Great Hampden in Buckinghamshire, John Hampden (ca. 15951643) was an English politician, the eldest son of William Hampden, of Hampden House, Great Hampden in Buckinghamshire, John Hampden (ca. 15951643)...
. In 1974, Hansford-Miller renamed the group the "English National Party
English National Party
English National Party has been the name of various political parties of England.-The original ENP:The English National Party was founded as the John Hampden New Freedom Party in the 1960s by Frank Hansford-Miller. In 1974, it renamed itself the "English Nationalist Party"...
", intending to parallel the success of Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
and the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
. He stood unsuccessfully under this label in numerous elections. The party achieved greater prominence in 1976, when it was joined by John Stonehouse
John Stonehouse
John Thomson Stonehouse was a British politician and minister under Harold Wilson. Stonehouse is perhaps best remembered for his unsuccessful attempt at faking his own death in 1974...
, a Labour Party
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...
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,...
who had faked his own death and spent time on remand in prison. Hansford-Miller welcomed the press to his garden shed and served them home brewed beer. During this period, he organised St George's Day
St George's Day
St George's Day is celebrated by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. St George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303...
rallies in Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
, which he addressed while wearing a Beefeater costume, and attempted to get an English national dress selected. However, he left the party around 1980, following internal disputes. At the Greater London Council election, 1981
Greater London Council election, 1981
Turnout: 2,250,118 people voted. All parties shown.This was the last election to the GLC. The Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher took the decision to abolish the council in the mid-1980s. For more information on this see the article, Greater London Council. Following the abolition of...
, Hansford-Miller and his wife instead stood for the Abolition of Rates Coalition.
Around this time, Hansford-Miller emigrated to Australia, settling in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, where he began tutoring at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, Murdoch University
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
and Curtin University. He took up marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
running and race walking
Race walking
Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance athletic event. Although it is a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times...
, setting a state record for the over-85 2000 metres walk. He also wrote prolificly, publishing more than 50 books, learned to play the digeridoo, and recorded music under the stage name "Frisky Frank".
Hansford-Miller never had children, and attracted attention in 2001 by campaigning to be cloned
Human cloning
Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a human. It does not usually refer to monozygotic multiple births nor the reproduction of human cells or tissue. The ethics of cloning is an extremely controversial issue...
, complaining that, while "reproductive technology" for women was available, there was no help available for him to reproduce.