Ron Ledger

Ronald Joseph Ledger (7 November 1920 – 11 December 2004)^[1][2] was a Labour Co-operative politician in the United Kingdom.

Early life

Ledger was born in Tunbridge Wells^{[citation needed]} and was raised in a Barnardo's orphanage after his father abandoned the family in 1923, during which time he was separated from his brother, sister, and pregnant mother.^[3] He was educated at Skinner's Grammar School and then at the University of Nottingham,^[4] where he founded the university's Labour Club and was its first chairman from 1948 to 1949.^[4]

He served with the Royal Air Force from 1942 to 1947.^[4]

Politics

Ledger unsuccessfully contested Rushcliffe at the 1951 general election,^[4] and was a member of Hertfordshire County Council from 1952 to 1954.^[4]

He was elected at the 1955 general election as the Labour Co-operative member of parliament (MP) for Romford,^[5] and held the seat until he retired from Parliament at the 1970 general election.^[4]

Ledger was a director of the London Co-operative Society from 1961.^[4] He was later the owner of a casino, and served as chairman of the Hairdressing Council from 1966.^[4]