Alfred Robens, Baron Robens of Woldingham

Sitter in 11 portraits
Robens was an official in the Union of Distributive and Allied Workers from 1935. In the Labour landslide of 1945, he won the Wansbeck division of Northumberland from the Conservatives, and he remained Labour MP for this mining community (later renamed Blyth) until 1960. In 1961, he became the Chairman of the National Coal Board and was created a life peer as Baron Robens of Woldingham. Robens dealt with the considerable challenges faced by the nationalised coal industry in the 1960s as demand for coal fell and the industry was forced to contract. His relationship with the government and with the unions was often fraught. After leaving the Coal Board Robens went on to work in the City and in private industry.