Joint leaders of the Social Democratic Party
16 of 244 portraits by Norman Parkinson
Joint leaders of the Social Democratic Party
by Norman Parkinson
bromide print, 1981
10 in. x 19 1/2 in. (254 mm x 495 mm)
Given by the photographer, Norman Parkinson, 1981
Primary Collection
NPG P180
Sittersback to top
- Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead (1920-2003), Writer and Labour politician; Home Secretary and co-founder of the Social Democratic Party. Sitter in 14 portraits. Identify
- David Anthony Llewellyn Owen, Baron Owen (1938-), Labour politician; Foreign Secretary and co-founder of the Social Democratic Party. Sitter in 8 portraits. Identify
- William Rodgers, Baron Rodgers (1928-), Politician; co-founder and leader of the Liberal Democrats. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Shirley Vivien Teresa Brittain Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby (1930-2021), Academic and politician; MP for Hitchin, Crosby and Stevenage and co-founder of Social Democratic Party. Sitter in 11 portraits. Identify
Artistback to top
- Norman Parkinson (1913-1990), Photographer. Artist or producer of 244 portraits, Sitter in 14 portraits.
This portraitback to top
The 'Gang of Four', disaffected former Labour Party cabinet ministers, who set up the Council for Social Democracy in January 1981. Taken at the House of Commons, one of six photographs commissioned by the Trustees for the Photographer's retropective at the National Portrait Gallery in 1981.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 736
Placesback to top
- Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, London)
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1981back to top
Current affairs
Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral. A crowd of 600,000 spectators filled the streets to catch a glimpse of the Royal couple, and 750 million viewers watched the event on television. The iconic moment came when Charles and Diana appeased the crowds by breaking royal protocol and kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.Art and science
Andrew Lloyd-Webber's musical Cats, based on T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, opens in the West End. The show ran for 21 years.Brideshead Revisited, the 1945 novel by Evelyn Waugh, is adapted for television by John Mortimer. The lavish production featured an all-star cast of Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom and John Gielgud, setting the bar high for future TV costume dramas.
International
Pope John Paul II is shot by a Turkish gunman in St Peter's Square in Rome. John Paul was rushed to hospital where he recovered, and Mehmet Ali Agca was caught and sentenced to life imprisonment.HIV AIDS is identified in five men in Los Angeles.
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