Joseph Reeves

Joseph Reeves (28 January 1888 – 8 March 1969) was a British Labour Party politician. He served as Member of Parliament for Greenwich between 1945 and 1959.

Early life

Reeves was born in Camberwell, London in 1888 to Walter Cookson and Ruth Reeves. His birth name was Joseph Cookson; it is unclear why or when he started using his mother's surname Reeves. His family were impoverished and Reeves left school aged 13. Reeves later credited this early awareness of the chasm between the lives of the poor and the lives of wealthy Edwardians with inspiring his interest in the Socialist Movement.

Having left school with a Labour Certificate, Reeves worked as an apprentice ticket, glass and sign writer for 5 years before starting his own sign writing business in his early twenties.

At the beginning of the First World War, Reeves was painting signage for Sainsbury's. The "draft bill he crafted was a cautious document seeking only to reassure doctors they were legally permitted to perform abortions to save a woman’s life and her mental and physical health. It was quickly defeated in Parliament."

He retired as MP in 1959.

Personal life

Reeves' first wife, Lily, suffered from poor mental health and their marriage was unhappy, though they had two daughters, Iris and Josephine. Their marriage ended in divorce on the grounds of Lily's mental health.

Reeves married Gladys Holdup in 1940. Their daughter Rosemary was born in 1945.