Nora Ratcliff David, Baroness David ( Blakesley; 23 September 1913 – 29 November 2009) was a British Labour Party

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...

and life peer. Born Nora Ratcliff Blakesley, the daughter of a merchant, she was educated at Ashby-de-la-Zouch Girls' Grammar School and at

Saint Felix School Saint Felix School is a 2–18 mixed, independent, day and boarding school in Reydon, Southwold, Suffolk, England. The school was founded in 1897 as a school for girls but is now co-educational. History The school was founded in 1897 as a gir ...

Southwold Southwold is a seaside town and civil parish on the English North Sea coast in the East Suffolk district of Suffolk. It lies at the mouth of the River Blyth within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town is ...

before going up to

Newnham College, Cambridge Newnham College is a women's constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1871 by a group organising Lectures for Ladies, members of which included philosopher Henry Sidgwick and suffragist campaigner Millicen ...

to study

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

graduating in 1935. In the same year, she married Richard William David (died 1993) with whom she had two sons and two daughters. She was a

Councillor A councillor is an elected representative for a local government council in some countries. Canada Due to the control that the provinces have over their municipal governments, terms that councillors serve vary from province to province. Unl ...

in the city of Cambridge from 1964–67, and from 1968–74, when she became a County Councillor in

Cambridgeshire County Council Cambridgeshire County Council is the county council of Cambridgeshire, England. The council consists of 61 councillors, representing 59 electoral divisions. The council is based at New Shire Hall at Alconbury Weald, near Huntingdon. It is a me ...

. She was a Justice of the Peace in Cambridge from 1965 until her death. She was raised to the life peerage as Baroness David, ''of Romsey in the City of

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a College town, university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cam ...

'', on 28 April 1978. She was an opposition spokesperson on

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...

from 1979 until 1985 and again from 1987 to 1997, and for the environment (1985–1987). She was also a government and opposition whip from 1978 to 1987. Her political interests included

, the environment, home affairs, and children. She was a fellow of

. Baroness David was an active member of the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...

. On Wednesday 31 January 2007, she slipped and fell down an escalator on the

Parliamentary Estate The Parliamentary Estate is the land and buildings used by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The most notable part of the Parliamentary Estate is the Palace of Westminster, where the chambers of both houses of Parliament (the Commons and t ...

, and was subsequently rushed to hospital. Shortly after the fall she retired to

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

. She died on 29 November 2009, aged 96, and was survived by two sons and two daughters.

References

External links

Baroness David
- Daily Telegraph obituary {{DEFAULTSORT:David, Nora, Baroness David 1913 births 2009 deaths Alumni of Newnham College, Cambridge Fellows of Newnham College, Cambridge Labour Party (UK) life peers Members of Cambridgeshire County Council People educated at Saint Felix School Place of birth missing Place of death missing 20th-century British women politicians 20th-century Haitian people Women councillors in England Life peeresses created by Elizabeth II