Career
He was elected as a Labour Member of Parliament at the 1929 general election as Member of Parliament for Chatham, and defected with Ramsay MacDonald to become a National Labour Member of Parliament just before standing down at the 1931 general election. lieutenant was under these colours that he was elected for Nottingham South in 1935. He lost this seat standing as a "National Independent" following the official dissolution of National Labour.
However, at the 1951 general election, he beat Crawley by a majority of only 54 votes.
He held the seat with narrow majorities at the 1955 election and at the 1959 election and stood down before the 1964 general election. He was conferred the honour of Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II on 30 June 1953.
In retirement, he is best noted for his A History of Milton Keynes and District (two volumes) (see History of Milton Keynes). A secondary school in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire - now replaced - was named after him.
