William John Gunnell (1 October 1933 – 28 January 2008) was a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.

Early life

He was born in

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...

, and educated at

King Edward's School, Birmingham King Edward's School (KES) is an independent school (UK), independent day school for boys in the British Public school (UK), public school tradition, located in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Founded by Edward VI of England, King Edward VI in 1552, it ...

. He gained a BSc in General Studies in 1955, and a PGCE in 1958 from the

University of Leeds The University of Leeds is a public research university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1874 as the Yorkshire College of Science. In 1884, it merged with the Leeds School of Medicine (established 1831) and was renamed Y ...

. As a

conscientious objector A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of conscience or religion. The term has also been extended to objecting to working for the military–indu ...

during National Service he was a hospital porter at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. In the 1960s he was a chemistry teacher at the United Nations International School in New York City. From 1970 to 1988 he was a Lecturer in the School of Education at the

. From 1977 to 1986 he was a

councillor A councillor, alternatively councilman, councilwoman, councilperson, or council member, is someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council. This is typically an elected representative of an electoral district in a municipal or re ...

on West Yorkshire County Council, being the leader 1981–86. He was also a councillor on

Leeds City Council Leeds City Council is the local authority of the City of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Leeds has had a council since 1626, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974 it has been a metropolitan borough council. It provides the ...

1986–92.

Parliamentary career

Gunnell initially stood for Parliament at Leeds North East in

February February is the second month of the year in the Julian calendar, Julian and Gregorian calendars. The month has 28 days in common years and 29 in leap years, with the February 29, 29th day being called the ''leap day''. February is the third a ...

and October 1974, but was beaten by Sir Keith Joseph on both attempts. At the 1992 election he was returned as Member of Parliament (MP) for Morley and Leeds South. That constituency was abolished at the 1997 election, and he was re-elected for the new Morley and Rothwell constituency. At the 2001 election he retired due to ill-health, and the seat was held for Labour by Colin Challenbr>

Personal life

He was married with three sons and one daughter. He was a keen follower of sport, being a Member of both Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Yorkshire and

Warwickshire County Cricket Club Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of eighteen first-class cricket, first-class county cricket, county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales. It represents the Historic counties of England, historic county of ...

s. He supported West Bromwich Albion Football Club as a child and watched most of Leeds United's home games between 1970 and 2005. Gunnell died on 28 January 2008 in

Wakefield Wakefield is a cathedral city in West Yorkshire, England located on the River Calder. The city had a population of 109,766 in the 2021 census, up from 99,251 in the 2011 census. The city is the administrative centre of the wider Metropolit ...

aged 74

External links

*
They Work For You

* Obituary from ''The Independent''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunnell, John 1933 births 2008 deaths Alumni of the University of Leeds Academics of the University of Leeds British conscientious objectors Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1992–1997 UK MPs 1997–2001 Councillors in Leeds Councillors in West Yorkshire People educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham