John Adam Day

John Day in the 1930s

John Adam Day (6 July 1901 – 7 June 1966), was a British Liberal Party parliamentary candidate who later became a prominent Conservative in Devon local government.

Background

He was the son of Herbert Allen Day and Isabella Maud Black. He was educated at Bedales School and the London School of Economics. He married, in 1932, Kathleen Emily Hebditch. They had one son and one daughter. He was a Hereditary Freeman of the City of Norwich.

Career

He was appointed a County Magistrate for Devon in 1938. He served in the Royal Air Force from 1940 to 1944. He was a Flight Lieutenant and Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal in charge of Cornwall. He was invalided out in 1944.

Political career

He was Liberal candidate for the Bury St Edmunds Division of Suffolk at the 1924 General Election. This was a safe Conservative seat that the Liberals had not contested since before 1918;

General Election 1924: Bury St Edmunds Electorate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Walter Edward Guinness	16,073	63.0
	Liberal	John Adam Day	9,392	37.0
Majority			6,681	26.2
Turnout			25,533	82.0
	Conservative hold		Swing

He was Liberal candidate for the Thornbury Division of Gloucestershire at the 1929 General Election. This was a more promising seat that the Liberals had last won in 1923;

Election	Political result		Candidate		Party	Votes	%	±%
General election, 1929 Electorate: 49,645 Turnout: 40,973 (82.5%) +3.0		Conservative hold Majority: 300 (0.8%) −6.7 Swing: 3.4% from Con to Lib		Derrick Wellesley Gunston	Conservative	13,914	34.0	−8.8
				John Adam Day	Liberal	13,614	33.2	−2.1
				Godfrey Elton	Labour	13,445	32.8	+10.9

He was Liberal candidate for the Tavistock Division of Devon at the 1931 General Election. He was hoping to take the seat from the Conservatives who had narrowly held the seat since taking it from the Liberals in 1924. At an election in which both main contenders claimed to be supporters of the National Government, the Conservative hung on;

General Election 1931: Tavistock Electorate 39,637

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Colin Mark Patrick	17,310	52.4
	Liberal	John Adam Day	13,592	41.2
	Labour	Richard Davies	2,124	6.4
Majority			3,718	11.2
Turnout				83.3
	Conservative hold		Swing

He was elected a Member of Devon County Council in 1932. He was again Liberal candidate for the Tavistock Division of Devon at the 1935 General Election, again without success;

General Election 1935: Tavistock Electorate 42,560

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Colin Mark Patrick	17,475	52.8
	Liberal	John Adam Day	13,422	40.5
	Labour	C H Townsend	2,236	6.7
Majority			4,053	12.3
Turnout				77.9
	Conservative hold		Swing

He was Treasurer of the Devon & Cornwall Liberal Federation.

Civic career

He was elected an Alderman of Devon County Council in 1947. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Devon County Council Education Committee 1947–55. He served as Chairman of the Devon County Council Children's Committee 1948–55. He served as High Sheriff of Devon, 1949–50. He served as Vice-Chairman of Devon County Council from 1955 to 1965. He served as Chairman of the Devon County Council Finance Committee 1956–65. He was Chairman of Torquay Division Conservative Association 1961–63. He served as Chairman of the Devon Community Council in 1962. He served as Chairman of Devon County Council from 1965 to 1966. He was a Member of the Economic Planning Council for the South West from 1965 to 1966.