Career
He held the seat at the next four general elections, and died shortly before the 1931 general election. Born in 1867 he lived all his life at The Elders, Main Street South Hiendley below the Sun Inn. The Elders and the large orchard to its rear were demolished to make way for Orchard Drive housing by Hemsworth Council.
John Guest started his working life as a miner at age 14, starting at Hodroyd Colliery before moving on to South Hiendley Colliery and being selected as delegate to the Yorkshire Miners Association at the age of 18.
He made his way up to Vice President of the Association in 1906 but was to give up the position in 1918 after being elected as Labour Member of Parliament for Hemsworth. His majority on his first election was less than 2,000, on the final election shortly before his death his majority stood at 20,000.
His continued struggle to fight for the welfare and safety of the working class, especially miners is a testimony to his lifetimes work and undoubtedly saved many lives. Its thanks to people like John Guest that we have a Minimum Wages Acting, a universal state pension, education reforms for all and Unions.
He made 131 contributions to the House of Commons up until 1928 when his health deteriorated.
His first contribution was with regards to Coal Output and his last to Gas Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Due to differences with his family John Guest was carelessly buried in an unmarked grave in Saint Peters church in Felkirk, near South Hiendley.
