This Is Your Life: Brunel Cohen

Sir Brunel COHEN KBE (1886-1965)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Brunel Cohen, campaigner and former politician, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at his home in Portland Place, London, having been led to believe he was taking part in a different programme.

Brunel, who was born in Liverpool, lost both his legs in a German machine gun attack at Ypres, France, while serving with the King's Liverpool Regiment during the First World War. After the war, having been elected MP for Liverpool Fairfield, he campaigned extensively for employment, training and war pensions for veterans and disabled people.

In the 1940s, Brunel chaired the Ministry of Labour's advisory council on employment for disabled people, which spurred the passing of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944, mandating employers to give jobs to disabled people. Brunel then helped establish Remploy, an organisation providing employment placement services for disabled people.

programme details...

Edition No: 161
Subject No: 162
Broadcast live: Mon 24 Apr 1961
Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 6
Edition: 32

on the guest list...

George Sharp
Col Albert Buckley
Gertrude Edgar
John Gibney
Emanuel Shinwell
Alfred Hughes
Maj Dorothy Fowler
James Wade
Stanley Pedrick
Vera - wife

production team...

Researcher: Nickola Stern
Writer: Liam Nolan
Director: Michael Goodwin
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

related page...

Life on the Hustings

a cross-party celebration

Brunel Cohen with guest James Wade on This Is Your Life

Series 6 subjects