Politician. He received notoriety as a member of British Labor Party. In spite of his Irish name, Tom O'Brien was from Llanelli, in Carmarthenshire, South Wales. He left school at the age of twelve and started work as an errand boy. In 1915, he lied about his age to serve in World War I, joining the British Army and serving in the Dardanelles. After the Armistice, he joined the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees, the forerunner of Equity. By 1932, he had risen to the rank of General Secretary. From 1945 to 1959, he served as the Labour Member of Parliament for Nottingham West ; and, on his retirement from the House of Commons, he was knighted. He was married and had two sons and two daughters. His grave is in the North of the cemetery. Turn right at the entrance and follow the path as it veers left, and you can see his memorial on the left-hand side. The quotation on his tombstone is the last two lines of "Death the Leveller" by 17th century poet James Shirley, except in the second to last line, Shirley's poem used the word "just", not "great", as shown on his marker.
Politician. He received notoriety as a member of British Labor Party. In spite of his Irish name, Tom O'Brien was from Llanelli, in Carmarthenshire, South Wales. He left school at the age of twelve and started work as an errand boy. In 1915, he lied about his age to serve in World War I, joining the British Army and serving in the Dardanelles. After the Armistice, he joined the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees, the forerunner of Equity. By 1932, he had risen to the rank of General Secretary. From 1945 to 1959, he served as the Labour Member of Parliament for Nottingham West ; and, on his retirement from the House of Commons, he was knighted. He was married and had two sons and two daughters. His grave is in the North of the cemetery. Turn right at the entrance and follow the path as it veers left, and you can see his memorial on the left-hand side. The quotation on his tombstone is the last two lines of "Death the Leveller" by 17th century poet James Shirley, except in the second to last line, Shirley's poem used the word "just", not "great", as shown on his marker.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
Inscription
"Only the actions of the GREAT smell sweet and blossom in the dust"
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