Author Archives: John Ault

Remembering David Penhaligon

david-penhaligonBlogs are supposed to be a topical and pithy commentary on the news of the day, so it might seem strange to be talking about a Cornish MP, who was elected 40 years ago this year. However, students at Exeter University in Cornwall are building a fascinating political history project that will record local and national memories of this famous Cornishman.

I met David only once, when I was 16, at the Knowsley North by-election, where the Liberal/SDP candidate was Rosie Cooper in a by-election caused by the resignation of Robert Kilroy-Silk. I wonder what ever happened to them… but I walked into the HQ to see the rather odd sight of a man, with his shirt sleeves rolled up with his head inside an old offset litho printing press. I assumed he was just a bloke come round to mend the thing which was clearly in a poor state of repair. You can perhaps imagine my surprise when I discovered he was the MP for Truro.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 10 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Tristan Ward
    "it is regrettable that the freed slaves got nothing" Freed slaves didn't get "nothing". They got freedom. I don't recall many electing to stay in chains ...
  • Judy Abel
    @Jana while I think obesity is a problem to be tackled to prevent long term conditions I do think the NHS needs to get to grips with its safety issues. In the B...
  • Andrew Tampion
    "What neither mention is that when slavery was abolished compensation was paid to the slave owners out of public money for the loss of their “assets”" I ag...
  • Tristan Ward
    @ Caron Lindsay "we need a message that is nationally relevant." Which bit of: "We need more growth" "We need to do something about climate change" "...
  • Andrew Tampion
    So if I said that the overwhelming majority of remain voters from 1975 had died and that therefore the 2016 referendum was justified you'd be fine with that?...