Trade unionist and Methodist local preacher, born on 14 February 1908 at South Walsham. He began work as a farm labourer and was a member of the National Union of Agricultural Labourers, becoming the Swaffham Area Organiser. He was a local preacher from 1932 and a member of the Swaffham Methodist Church. From 1936 he was the Labour Party’s full-time agent in East Norfolk and a union officer. He was a member of Norfolk County Council from 1951. In the 1959 parliamentary by-election, caused by the death of fellow Methodist Sidney Dye, MP, he was returned for the marginal South-West Norfolk constituency, but was defeated in the 1964 General Election. In 1961 he was elected to the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee. From 1964 Hilton was the President of the National Agricultural Workers' Union and in May 1965 he became a life peer as Baron Hilton of Upton. He was also chair of the National Brotherhood Movement. He died on 3 May 1977.

Entry written by: DCD
Category: Person
Comment on this entry