Gwyn Prosser


Gwynfor Matthews Prosser is a British Labour Party politician, who was Member of Parliament for Dover from the 1997 to 2010 general elections.

Early life and education

Prosser was born in 1943 in Swansea. He went to Dunvant Secondary Modern School, then to Swansea Technical School to study and achieve a National Diploma in mechanical engineering.

Career in naval engineering

He began his career in engineering as a Merchant Navy cadet engineer, from 1960–4, then worked as a seagoing engineer for BP from 1964–7, and Blue Funnel Line from 1967–71. He was chief engineer for BR Shipping from 1971-4, then a test and guarantee engineer for John Kincaid of Greenock from 1974–77. He was a port engineer for Aramco in Saudi Arabia from 1977–8, then chief engineer for Anscar from 1978–9, and Sealink Ferries from Dover from 1979–92.

Career in politics

In 1987 Prosser was elected to Dover District Council, and was also a Kent County Councillor. From 1993 to 1996 he was a social survey interviewer for the British Civil Service. In May 1997 he was elected Member of Parliament for Dover.
During his time as an MP, he was a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee from 2001 until he left Parliament.
Prosser lost his seat in the 2010 general election to Charlie Elphicke, the Conservative candidate.

Personal life

He married in 1972. He and his wife have one son and two daughters.