Jenkins, Hugh Gater, b 1908, Baron Jenkins of Putney, politician

Hugh Gater Jenkins was born in 1908 in Enfield, and in 1941 was commissioned into the RAF, serving as a Flight Lieutenant. He spent the latter part of his time in the RAF in the Far East on secondment as Head of English programmes at Rangoon Radio. After demobilisation in 1946 he became Research and Publicity Officer for the National Union of Bank Employees and editor of 'The Bank Officer'. In 1950 he joined the staff of Actors Equity as Assistant General Secretary. Jenkins stood as Labour Parliamentary candidate in Enfield in 1950 and in Mitcham in 1955. It was in Mitcham that he helped to found the Anti-H Bomb Committee, which later became the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, serving as Chairman from 1979 to 1981, and later becoming Vice-President. He was also chairman of Victory for Socialism from 1956 until shortly before it merged into the Tribune Group in 1960. He was County Councillor on the London County Council and Greater London Council for Stoke Newington and Hackney North from 1958 until his election as the Labour Member of Parliament for Putney, a position he held from 1964 to 1979. He was Chairman of the Standing Advisory Committee on Authorities and the Theatre, Vice-Chairman and later Vice-president of the Theatres Advisory Council, and Director and later consultant to the Theatres Trust. He was also a member of the Arts Council, 1968-1971, and Minister for the Arts, 1974-1976.