Greville Janner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Janner of Braunstone
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Janner in 2009
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| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Life peerage 25 October 1997 – 19 December 2015 |
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| Member of Parliament for Leicester West Leicester North West (1970–1974) |
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| In office 18 June 1970 – 8 April 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Barnett Janner |
| Succeeded by | Patricia Hewitt |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Greville Ewan Janner
11 July 1928 Cardiff, Wales |
| Died | 19 December 2015 (aged 87) London, England |
| Resting place | Willesden Jewish Cemetery |
| Political party | Labour (suspended April 2015) |
| Spouse |
Myra Sheink
(m. 1955; died 1996) |
| Children | 3, including Daniel and Laura |
| Education | St Paul's School, London |
| Alma mater | Trinity Hall, Cambridge Harvard Law School |
| Profession | Barrister |
Greville Ewan Janner, also known as Baron Janner of Braunstone, was a British politician, lawyer, and writer. He was born on July 11, 1928, and passed away on December 19, 2015. He became a Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Leicester in 1970, taking over from his father. He served as an MP until 1997. After that, he became a member of the House of Lords. Janner was well-known for his work on special committees in Parliament. He also led the Board of Deputies of British Jews for several years. He was very active in teaching people about the Holocaust.
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Early Life and Education
Greville Janner was born in Cardiff, Wales. His parents were Lithuanian Jewish. When he was 11, he and his sister were sent to Canada. This was because his parents worried about a Nazi invasion of Britain. While in Canada, he lived with family friends. He went to Bishop's College School in Quebec. Janner came back to Britain in 1942. He then attended St Paul's School in London.
When he was 18, Janner worked in Germany for 18 months. He was part of the British Army's War Crimes Investigation Unit. His job was to look into cases of British airmen who died in a prisoner of war camp. On weekends, he helped Holocaust survivors at Bergen-Belsen. This army unit closed in 1948.
Later, Janner studied Law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge University. He was the president of the Cambridge Union Society in 1952. He also led the university's Labour Club. He became the international secretary for a student group. Janner also attended Harvard Law School in the United States. He received special awards to study there.
After his training, he became a barrister in 1954. A barrister is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. He was made a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1971. This is a special title for experienced lawyers.
Public Service and Community Work
Serving in Parliament
Greville Janner first tried to become an MP in 1955 but was not successful. He later became an MP for Leicester North West in 1970. He took over this role from his father, Sir Barnett Janner. His father decided to retire just before the election. This meant Greville was chosen quickly to run in his place. Posters that said "Vote Janner" were already printed.
He continued to represent the area, which was renamed Leicester West, until he retired in 1997. From 1994 to 1996, Janner led the Select Committee on Employment. This committee looked into jobs and work-related issues. He had to step down from this role. This was due to concerns about his other work as an advisor to some companies. Patricia Hewitt took over his seat in Parliament.
Supporting Jewish Causes
Janner was the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. This is the main group representing Jewish people in Britain. He held this position from 1978 to 1984. He worked hard to get money for people who suffered during the Holocaust. In Parliament, he supported the War Crimes Act 1991. This law aimed to bring people responsible for Nazi crimes to justice in Britain. He was also a vice-president of the World Jewish Congress and the Jewish Leadership Council. He led the National Council for Soviet Jewry.
In 1988, he helped start the Holocaust Educational Trust. This group successfully convinced the British government to include Holocaust education in the national school curriculum. Janner stepped down from this role in 2012. The Lord Janner Scholarship now helps schools take part in the Trust's educational programs.
Janner also worked to improve understanding between different religions. He wrote a book about this called One Hand Alone Cannot Clap. He helped create the Coexistence Trust. This charity works to fight against unfair treatment of Muslims and Jewish people.
Role in the House of Lords
In 1997, Janner was given the title of Baron Janner of Braunstone. This made him a life peer in the House of Lords. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament. He was president of a group in Parliament that worked against unfair treatment of Jewish people.
In 2006, Janner had a disagreement with another member, Lord Bramall. This happened during a debate about politics in the Middle East. Janner continued to attend the House of Lords until December 2013. He was on leave from the House of Lords starting in October 2014.
Other Interests
Janner wrote many books. These books were about public speaking and how to communicate well in business. One of his books was called On Presentation. He also wrote under the name Ewan Mitchell. He was a member of The Magic Circle. This is a famous group for magicians. He was also part of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
Family Life
In 1955, Greville Janner married Myra Louise Sheink. She was from Australia. Her uncle was Sir Israel Brodie, a former Chief Rabbi. Greville and Myra had three children. They had two daughters and one son. Myra Sheink passed away in 1996.
Lord Janner's younger daughter is Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner. She became a Senior Rabbi in 2011. His other daughter, Marion Janner, received an award for her work in mental health. His son, Daniel Janner, is also a barrister and a QC, just like his father.
Later Life and Passing
In 2009, Janner was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is a condition that affects memory and thinking. By 2015, the disease had become very serious. He needed care around the clock for his dementia. At a court hearing in August 2015, a doctor said he was also showing early signs of Parkinson's disease. Greville Janner passed away on December 19, 2015, at the age of 87. He died from problems related to Alzheimer's disease.
See also
- List of Bishop's College School alumni
Images for kids
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Coronet of a British Baron
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Janner of Braunstone Escutcheon
