Sidney Ford

Who was Sidney Ford?

Sir Sidney Ford, MBE was a British trade union leader.

Sidney William George FORD was born in Edmonton, London. Ford began working for the Miners' Federation of Great Britain in 1925. He received his knighthood for his work on Lord Devlin Docks Inquiry and other T.U.C.. He never worked as a miner, but became Secretary of COSA, the colliery officials and staffs section of the union. He was known for his loyalty to the Labour Party and his opposition to the union's left-wing.

The MFGB was refounded as the National Union of Mineworkers. Its President-Elect, Alwin Machen, died suddenly in the same month he was elected. A new presidential election was held, and Ford stood against Alex Moffat, a Scottish communist. He retired in 1971. For a number of years prior to his death he suffered from Parkinsons Disease, and died as a result of this on 13 August 1983. He died in Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, London N.21.