John Cowburn Beavan, Baron Ardwick (9 April 1910 – 18 August 1994) was a British journalist, Labour life peer and Member of the European Parliament. He began his journalistic career in local newspapers before a long associations with The Guardian and Mirror. He was a staunch Labour supporter and was appointed as a life peer by Harold Wilson in 1970, namely to represent journalism in the House of Lords.
Early life and education Beavan was born at Ardwick, in Manchester, on 9 April 1910, a son of Silas Morgan Beavan (1881–1964; of Welsh origin and a miner, later greengrocer)First Lady- Intrigue at the court of Carrie and Boris Johnson, Michael Ashcroft, Biteback Publishing, 2022, p. 2 and Emily Esther (née Hussey; 1882–1972), who from 'humble origins' went on to serve as a Manchester City Councillor, alderman, and justice of the peace, and was a campaigner for women's rights.First Lady- Intrigue at the court of Carrie and Boris Johnson, Michael Ashcroft, Biteback Publishing, 2022, p. 2 Beavan was educated at Manchester Grammar School.2007 "Ardwick, Baron cr 1970 (Life Peer), of Barnes, (John Cowburn Beavan) (29 April 1910–18 Aug. 1994)." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 26 Jul. 2019
Career Beavan's early career involved work at a number of newspapers, including the Manchester Evening Chronicle, the Blackpool Times, and the Evening Standard. In 1943, he became editor of the Manchester Evening News. Between 1946 and 1955, he was London editor of The Guardian.Terence Lancaster Obituary: Lord Ardwick, The Independent, 19 August 1994 For two years, 1960 to 1962, he was editor of the Daily Herald, then becoming political advisor to the Mirror Group, a post he retained until 1976.Dennis Griffiths (ed) The Encyclopedia of the British Press, 1422–1992, London & Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1992, p,97 He was a Labour Member of the European Parliament from 1975 to 1979.
On 16 January 1970, he was created a life peer as Baron Ardwick, of Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
Personal life He married Gladys Jones in 1934, with whom he adopted a daughter. By Anne Symonds, a BBC World Service journalist, he was also the father of Matthew Symonds.2018 "Symonds, Matthew John, (born 20 Dec. 1953), Executive Director, Lawrence Ellison Foundation, since 2018." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 26 Jul. 2019 Symonds' daughter Carrie is the spouse of the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, a Conservative.ITV Report, Carrie Symonds: Who is Boris Johnson's partner? at itv.com dated 22 June 2019, accessed 24 June 2019
On 18 August 1994, Beavan died from cancer at Parkside Hospital in Wimbledon, London, at the age of 84.
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