Raymond Dobson

Raymond Francis Harvey Dobson(26 April 1925 – 22 September 1980) was a British trade union official, politician and airline company executive.

Dobson went to Purbrook Park School inPortsmouth.He joined theLabour Partyin 1947 and had a career in the Union of Post Office Workers, on which he served on the Executive.

At the1959 general election,Dobson foughtTorrington,a seat which had been won by theLiberal Partyin a 1958 byelection, but which theConservativeswon back in 1959. In 1960, Dobson was Labour candidate at theTiverton by-election.

Dobson fought the marginal constituency ofBristol North Eastat the1964 general election,failing by 1,211 votes to win it from the Conservatives. He fought the seat again in the1966 general electionand this time prevailed by nearly 4,000.

With a neighbouring seat,Tony Benngot on well with Dobson and appointed him as hisParliamentary Private Secretaryin 1967.Harold Wilsonpromoted Dobson to be an Assistant Whip in October 1969. However, he lost his seat by 462 votes in the1970 general election.He was appointed Director of Personnel forBritish CaledonianAirways. Later in the 1970s, Dobson served on the board ofGambia Airways(1974–77) and ofAir Liberia(from 1976).

References

• M. Stenton and S. Lees, "Who's Who of British MPs" (Harvester Press, 1981)