Lena Chivers, Baroness Jeger

Politician campaigner and journalist

Though born in Gloucestershire in 1915, Baroness Jeger, then Lena May, was educated at Southgate County High School. She first became Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras in 1953, winning the seat following the death of its previous incumbent, her husband Dr Santo Jeger. Santo had been an east end doctor before becoming an MP and he and Lena were strong supporters of the creation of the NHS and friends of Aneurin Bevan and Jenny Lee. She held the seat until 1959 and won it again in 1964, holding it this time until 1979 at which time she became a member of the House of Lords. Jeger was known as a strong supporter of the Greek Cypriot cause and a champion of women’s rights. Many also knew her through her work with the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/mar/03/pressandpublishing.obituaries

One reply on “Lena Chivers, Baroness Jeger”

Hi Sue,

To clarify, Baroness Jeger’s maiden name was Lena May Chivers and there is a nice article with the byline Lena Chivers, The Part-Timer’s Farewell in the Manchester Guardian of 14 May 1945 alongside the Country Diary of that date which you can view in the archive clipping in Monday’s Guardian (11.5.20).

best wishes,

Richard

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