Derek Hodgson

Derek Hodgson (born 1941) is a former Welsh trade union leader.

Born in Cardiff, Hodgson attended St Mary's Catholic School. He left at the age of fifteen, and turned down a place at agricultural college for a job delivering telegrams for the Post Office. He joined the Union of Post Office Workers and became the union representative for the telegram boys. Part of his job involved delivering dispatch boxes to George Thomas, who encouraged Hodgson to join the Labour Party.

In his youth, Hodgson was a keen welterweight boxer, coached by Eddie Thomas. He considered turning professional, but he broke his leg in a motorbike accident at the age of nineteen and thereafter spent his spare time playing rugby and horse riding.

Since retiring Derek moved up North and now lives on the Lancashire coast with his wife Sheena, he is also a keen golfer.