Derek Enright

For the poet, see D. J. Enright.

Derek Anthony Enright (2 August 1935 – 31 October 1995) was a Labour politician in the United Kingdom.

Early life

Born in Thornaby-on-Tees, he attended the (Roman Catholic) St Michael's College on St John's Road in Leeds (now merged with Mount St Mary's Catholic High School), then a grammar school. He was educated at Wadham College, Oxford, gaining a BA in Classics and a DipEd, and worked as a school teacher of classics at The John Fisher School, a grammar school in Purley from 1959-67.

Parliamentary career

He was elected as a Labour Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Leeds in 1979, staying until 1984. He was British Labour group spokesman on third world affairs and women's rights, and was later an EC delegate in Guinea Bissau. He contested Kent East in the 1984 European election.

He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Hemsworth in West Yorkshire from a by-election in 1991 until his death.

Anecdote

He once made recordings of the Beatles songs "Yellow Submarine" and "Eleanor Rigby" in Latin.

In fact, Derek Enright sang Yellow Submarine in the House Of Commons when the Education Reform Bill was being argued. During this time, Derek spoke only in Latin, and when challenged by a Conservative that "he might be able to speak Latin, but he cannot sing Latin", Enright immediately stood up and sang "Yellow Submarine" — much to the surprise of the house. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Geoffrey Lofthouse, then asked him to stop. It is forbidden to sing in the House of Commons.

Personal life

He married Jane Simmons in 1963, and they had two sons and two daughters. He died from cancer aged 60.

External links

• Derek Enright singing Yellow Submarine in Latin in the House of Commons (2 March 1993)
• Independent obituary
• They Work For You
• His contributions at Hansard

European Parliament
New title	Member of the European Parliament for Leeds 1979 – 1984	Succeeded by Michael McGowan
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by George Buckley	Member of Parliament for Hemsworth 1991 – 1995	Succeeded by Jon Trickett

Persondata
Name	Enright, Derek
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	2 August 1935
Place of birth
Date of death	31 October 1995
Place of death