Alwyn Machen
Alwyn Machen (1901–1 March 1960) was a British trade union leader.
Born into a coal mining family in Derbyshire, Machen left school and began working as a coal miner at the age of thirteen.[1] He continued his education at the Chesterfield Labour College, and soon began to lecture personally at the college. He joined the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB), and through this role, helped organise a major demonstration in London in 1925, where he heard Herbert Smith and A. J. Cook speak, becoming a supporter of the two miners' leaders.[2]
Following the UK general strike, Machen struggled to find work, but eventually gained employment at a colliery in Thorne in Yorkshire.[2] There, he joined the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB), and rapidly rose through its ranks, first within his local union branch,[1] then in 1945 becoming the regional Compensation Agent. In this role, he became well-known, and wrote a book on the Industrial Injuries Act.[2] In 1952, he was elected as President of the Yorkshire Miners' Association.[1]
A member of the Labour Party, Machen was elected as a councillor on the West Riding of Yorkshire County Council, and also on Thorne Rural District Council..[3]
Machen first stood for the post of President of the National Union of Mineworkers (successor to the MFGB) in 1945, coming second to Will Lawther.[2] He stood again in 1960, but died suddenly at the start of March. The count for the presidential election was completed a few days later, showing that he had been posthumously elected to the position.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Labour Monthly, vol.42 (1960), p.180
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Vin Williams, "Miners' Champion", The Plebs, Vols.51-52, p.81
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Report of the 59th Annual Conference (1960), p.53
| Trade union offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of the Yorkshire Area of the National Union of Mineworkers 1952–1960 |
Succeeded by Sam Bullough |
| Preceded by | President of the National Union of Mineworkers 1960 |
Succeeded by Sidney Ford |
