Trade Unionist and Labour politician, born on 22 April 1873 in Southwark, London of humble parentage. He had a Methodist upbringing and became a Wesleyan local preacher in 1901. He was a candidate for the ministry in 1902, but was declined because he was married. He was actively involved in the Brotherhood Movement, becoming its President in 1929 and again in 1945.

After leaving school he worked for 24 years for the Post Office, was chairman of the Fawcett Association (the trade union for sorters) and was instrumental in the formation of the amalgamated Union of Post Office Workers. He was a founder-member of the Independent Labour Party, a Labour member of the London County Council (1919-25, and from 1934), Chairman of the LCC, 1941-42, and Mayor of Camberwell in 1950-51. He was Labour MP for North Camberwell 1922-31 and 1935-44 and was Parliamentary Secretary at the Admiralty 1924 and 1929-31. In 1944 he entered the Upper House as Baron Ammon of Camberwell, and was Government Chief Whip 1945-49. As chairman of the National Dock Labour Corporation, he played a controversial part in the London dock strike of 1949.

Ammon married Ada Eileen May in 1898; they had a son and two daughters. Ammon died on 2 April 1960 and the speaker at his funeral service at Herne Hill Methodist Church was Donald Soper.

Category: Person
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