Robert John Blizzard (31 May 1950 – 5 May 2022) was a British Labour politician who served as member of Parliament (MP) for the Suffolk constituency of Waveney from 1997 until 2010.

Early life

Bob Blizzard was born on 31 May 1950 in Bury St Edmunds, West Suffolk, and was educated at Culford School in Bury St Edmunds and the University of Birmingham.

After his education, he became a teacher. In 1973, he became an English teacher at Southfields Secondary School in Gravesend, Kent. He was appointed the Head of the English Department at the Crayford School on Iron Mill Lane in the London Borough of Bexley in 1976. In 1986, he became the Head of English at the Lynn Grove High School in the Gorleston-on-Sea area of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Political career

Blizzard was elected as a councillor to Waveney District Council in 1987 and became its leader in 1991.

Reselection as Labour's candidate and 2015 election

On 21 October 2011, Blizzard was overwhelmingly selected as Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate by the Waveney Constituency Labour Party, winning the ballot on members' first preference votes. The selection set up a re-run of the 2010 election contest against Peter Aldous. Aldous held the seat with an increased majority, which ended Blizzard's political career.

Death

Blizzard died in Norfolk on 5 May 2022. His funeral was held in Lowestoft on 28 May.

References

  • Bob Blizzard official website
  • Bob Blizzard archive of parliamentary material
  • Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Bob Blizzard MP
  • TheyWorkForYou.com MP Profile – Bob Blizzard MP