Vic Feather
Encyclopedia
Victor Grayson Hardie Feather, Baron Feather (10 April 1908 – 28 July 1976) was General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress
in Great Britain
from 1969 to 1973.
Feather was born in Idle, Bradford
, Yorkshire
in 1908, and was named after the recently-elected socialist MP Victor Grayson
. He was educated at Hanson Grammar School
in Bradford
, Yorkshire
. He began work at age 14 and joined the Shopworkers' Union. He was elected shop steward at age 15, and chairman of his branch committee at age 21. In 1937 he joined the staff of the Trades Union Congress
. He became Assistant Secretary (1947–60), Assistant General Secretary (1960–69), and General Secretary (1969–73).
As General Secretary, Feather led the British trade union movement's fight against Heath
government's Industrial Relations Act 1971
. After retirement from the TUC, he was President of the European Trade Union Confederation
(1973–74). He was created Baron Feather, of the City of Bradford, on 6 March 1974. Lord Feather died two years later in 1976.
With his blunt Yorkshire
manner, he was something of a "character" in British public life. He was often imitated by Mike Yarwood
. When he appeared on Parkinson
he admitted to stealing sheep in the 1930s. He was the subject of an episode of This Is Your Life (UK TV series)
, first broadcast on 28 November 1973.
He married Alice Ellison in 1930.
General Secretary of the TUC
The General Secretary of the TUC is the chief permanent officer of the Trades Union Congress, and a major figurehead in the trade union movement in the United Kingdom....
in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
from 1969 to 1973.
Feather was born in Idle, Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
in 1908, and was named after the recently-elected socialist MP Victor Grayson
Victor Grayson
Albert Victor Grayson was an English socialist politician of the early 20th century. A Member of Parliament from 1907 to 1910, his sudden and still-unexplained disappearance in 1920 is widely believed to have been the result of his intention to reveal evidence of corruption at the highest levels...
. He was educated at Hanson Grammar School
Hanson School
Hanson School is a comprehensive school in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.-Admissions:Hanson School is situated between Bolton and Five Lane Ends. It is situated in an ethnically-white part of Bradford.-Head teacher:...
in Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. He began work at age 14 and joined the Shopworkers' Union. He was elected shop steward at age 15, and chairman of his branch committee at age 21. In 1937 he joined the staff of the Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
. He became Assistant Secretary (1947–60), Assistant General Secretary (1960–69), and General Secretary (1969–73).
As General Secretary, Feather led the British trade union movement's fight against Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
government's Industrial Relations Act 1971
Industrial Relations Act 1971
The Industrial Relations Act 1971 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, since repealed. It was largely based on proposals outlined in the governing Conservative Party's manifesto for the 1970 general election...
. After retirement from the TUC, he was President of the European Trade Union Confederation
European Trade Union Confederation
The European Trade Union Confederation is a trade union organization which was established in 1973 to represent workers and their national affiliates at the European level....
(1973–74). He was created Baron Feather, of the City of Bradford, on 6 March 1974. Lord Feather died two years later in 1976.
With his blunt Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
manner, he was something of a "character" in British public life. He was often imitated by Mike Yarwood
Mike Yarwood
Mike Yarwood, OBE is an English impressionist and comedian. He was one of Britain's top-rated entertainers, regularly appearing on television from the mid 1960s to the early 1980s. He left Bredbury Secondary Modern School in 1956 and worked as a messenger and then salesman at a garment warehouse...
. When he appeared on Parkinson
Parkinson (TV series)
Parkinson is a British television talk show that was presented by Sir Michael Parkinson. It was first shown on the BBC from 1971 to 2004, and on ITV from 2004 to 2007.-Background:...
he admitted to stealing sheep in the 1930s. He was the subject of an episode of This Is Your Life (UK TV series)
This Is Your Life (UK TV series)
This Is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64...
, first broadcast on 28 November 1973.
He married Alice Ellison in 1930.
External links
- Vic Feather on cover of Private Eye - private-eye.co.uk
- BBC "On This Day" 1 March 1971 - news.bbc.co.uk
- BBC "On This Day" 1 May 1973 - news.bbc.co.uk