About Sir Tom McCaffrey
Lived 1922 – 2016 (aged 94). Sir Tom McCaffrey was a British civil servant.
Sir Thomas Daniel McCaffrey (20 February 1922 – 8 July 2016) was a British civil servant who served as Downing Street Press Secretary under James Callaghan from 1976 to 1979.
Early life Tom McCaffrey was born in Glasgow and educated at the local Hyndland Secondary School. Later he would attend the Jesuit St Aloysius college. He was the son of a travelling salesman, William McCaffrey and his wife Bridget (nee McCafferty). During World War II he joined the Royal Air Force and served as a wireless radio operator.
Career After demobilisation in 1945 he commenced his career with the civil service, eventually going on to serve as Downing Street Press Secretary for Labour prime minister James Callaghan. After the defeat of Callaghan in the 1979 general election, he went to work for the new Labour party leader, Michael Foot.
Tom McCaffrey was knighted in the 1979 dissolution honours list.
Personal life In 1949, he married Agnes Douglas, known as Nancy. The union bore four daughters and two sons.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Sir Tom McCaffrey?
British civil servant (born 1922)
When was Sir Tom McCaffrey born?
Sir Tom McCaffrey was born on 20 February 1922 in Glasgow.
When did Sir Tom McCaffrey die?
Sir Tom McCaffrey died on 8 July 2016.
What was Sir Tom McCaffrey's occupation?
Sir Tom McCaffrey was a civil servant.
What nationality was Sir Tom McCaffrey?
Sir Tom McCaffrey was British.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Sir Tom McCaffrey
· DBpedia: Tom McCaffrey (political adviser)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sir Tom McCaffrey. https://biography.guide/sir-tom-mccaffrey/
MLA: "Sir Tom McCaffrey." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sir-tom-mccaffrey/.
Chicago: "Sir Tom McCaffrey." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sir-tom-mccaffrey/.
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