Papers of and relating to Sir Leslie Cannon (1920-1970), trade union leader

Correspondence and related papers regarding Cannon's involvement in the Communist Party, and Communist involvement with the ETU, 1946-1961; articles written by Cannon, 1955-1970; press cuttings, 1957-60, 1964, 1967.

Born in 1920, Les Cannon quickly made his mark on the world of trade unionism. A keen supporter of the Communist Party in his early life, and an electrician by trade, Cannon held the position of Electrical Trades Union Executive Councillor from 1948-1954. However, in the wake of events in Hungary, Cannon became disillusioned with the Communist Party, leaving it in 1956. From then on, he began a campaign to uncover what he saw as a wide ranging plot by the Communists to rig ETU elections - this resulted in the famous 1961 trial, when Cannon's allegations were proved correct, and the then ETU General Secretary was forced to step down. Cannon became ETU General President in 1963, and also over-saw the union's merger with the Plumbing Trades Union, to form the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Trades Union in 1968. Tragically, Cannon died of cancer in 1970, aged fifty, shortly before he was awarded a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List.

Reference: John Lloyd, 'Light and Liberty: The History of the EETPU', (London, 1990).

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Link to full catalogue: http://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/CAN

The collection was deposited with the Centre by Cannon's widow, Lady Olga Cannon, in 1976. A further anonymous addition to the collection (references beginning MSS.137X) was made in 1989.

The Modern Records Centre also holds: general records of the Electrical Trades Union (MSS.387); papers of Frank Chapple (MSS.387/6/CH).