George Waft
George Waft | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man | |
| In office 1994–2010 | |
| Member of the House of Keys | |
| In office 1991–1994 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1937 |
| Died | (aged 89) |
| Spouse |
Lynn Jeanette Howarth
(m. 1961) |
George Henry Waft (1937 – 1 October 2026) was a Manx politician who served in the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man from 1994 to 2010. Prior to his tenure in the legislative council he was a member Onchan's board of commissioners from 1971 to 1991, and the House of Keys from 1991 to 1994.
Early life and education
[edit]George Henry Waft[1] was born in 1937. He was educated at the Tynwald Street and Desmesne Road Primary Schools and Ballakermeen and Douglas High School. Waft attended the Isle of Man College of Further Education, Naval Training College, and Isle of Man Nurse Training School. He also studied through the Open University.[2]
Waft was a catering officer for naval companies. He worked for the Department of Health and Social Security for 30 years as a psychiatric nurse.[2]
Career
[edit]From 1971 to 1991, Waft served on Onchan's board of commissioners; he served as chair of the board twice.[3][4] In 1991, Waft won a seat in the House of Keys through a by-election. He was appointed to the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man in 1994.[2] He left the legislative council in 2010, and retired from politics.[5][2]
The practice of birching was abolished by legislation proposed by Waft in 1993. Birching was already abolished in the jurisdictions of Great Britain[6] and the last attempted to do birching in the Isle of Man was in 1981.[7] Waft was one of the main supporters of the Disability Discrimination Act, which prohibited discrimination against disabled people in education, transportation, and building access. In 2013, he criticised the act not being implemented despite it receiving royal assent in 2006.[8]
Waft joined the Royal British Legion in 1998, and later became president of the RBL's branch in Onchan.[2] He was president of the Overseas Aid Committee.[3]
Personal life and death
[edit]Waft married Lynn Jeanette Howarth on 29 April 1961.[9] He died on 1 October 2026, aged 89.[2]
References
[edit]- ↑ Maher 2008, p. 4676.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nicoll 2026.
- 1 2 Morton 2026.
- ↑ Onchan 2026.
- ↑ Manx Radio 2010.
- ↑ Farragher 1993.
- ↑ Irwin 2005, p. 136.
- ↑ Manx Radio 2013.
- ↑ Kirk Bradden Wedding 1961.
Works cited
[edit]Books
[edit]- Irwin, Colin (2005). In Search of Albion: From Cornwall to Cumbria: A Ride Through England's Hidden Soul. Carlton Publishing Group. ISBN 0233001166.
- Maher, Joanne, ed. (2008). The Europa World Year Book. Vol. 2 (49 ed.). Routledge. ISBN 9781857434538.
News
[edit]- "Isle of Man declares an end to 'brutal' birching". Isle of Man Daily Times. 2 May 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Man behind DDA disillusioned it's still not fully implemented". Manx Radio. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 October 2026.
- "Tributes to 'dedicated' former Manx politician". Manx Radio. 12 June 2010. Archived from the original on 3 October 2026.
- Farragher, Tony (6 March 1993). "Isle of Man declares an end to 'brutal' birching". The Independent. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- Morton, Adam (1 October 2026). "Tributes paid to 'dedicated and committed' former Onchan MHK". Isle of Mann Today. Archived from the original on 3 October 2026.
- Nicoll, Catherine (1 October 2026). "Tributes to 'dedicated' former Manx politician". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 October 2026.
Web
[edit]- "Passing of former Commissioner George Waft". Onchan. 1 October 2026.