Ossie O'Brien

He was born Oswald O'Brien into the Darlington family of a disabled First World War soldier and mill worker mother in 1928. From St Mary's Catholic Grammar School he went to Fircroft College, Birmingham and St Cuthbert's Society in the University of Durham, during which he served as President of the Durham Union, after World War II service in the Royal Navy which he volunteered for lying about his age by one year (aged 14) to relieve economic pressure on his family.

O'Brien was committed to the causes of nuclear disarmament, equality and liberation politics. He was a teacher at Durham University, Director of Studies of the Co-operative College, Workplace Director of Alcohol Concern, member of Commission of Industrial Relations, Workers' Educational Association, and European and International Consultant on workers rights, economics and security.

O'Brien was elected Member of Parliament for Darlington in the March 1983 by-election following the death of Edward Fletcher. In the general election held just three months later, he lost the seat to the Conservative party candidate Michael Fallon, who had been his rival in the by-election. He never re-entered the British Parliament.

• List of United Kingdom MPs with the shortest service

• Times Guide to the House of Commons 1983
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

• Obituary - The Independent
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Oswald O'Brien