Ronald Gould (trade unionist)

He was born in Midsomer Norton, Somerset. His father, Frederick Gould, was a bootmaker who was later Labour MP of nearby Frome. His mother, Emma Gay, had been a servant to the Monckton family at Clevedon; her duties including looking after their children including the young Sir Walter Monckton. She was a descendant of the playwright John Gay. Fred and Emma were both musical: he was a baritone and she a soprano. At the age of three-and-a-half Ronald attended the local Methodist infants' school. At seven he transferred to a local middle school. After that he attended grammar school in Shepton Mallet, before going to Westminster College, London for teacher training. ==Career==

He completed his teacher training in 1924 and was offered a temporary teaching post at Milk Street Council School in Frome, In 1955 he received his knighthood. ==Later life==

He retired in 1970. In 1976, he published his autobiography. His wife Nellie died in 1979. He died in 1986. ==Family life==

His wife was Nellie Denning Fish (8 March 1904 – 22 May 1979), from Radstock, daughter of Joseph Willie Fish and Rose Denning. He had two sons, Terence and Derek. ==Views and impact==

Ronald Gould's tenure as General Secretary of the N.U.T. was at a period of immense change in UK schooling, heralded by the post-war Education reforms. The Education Act 1944 paved the way for much of this change. Gould saw the importance of "establishing equality of opportunity" via free secondary education, greater access to higher education, the virtual abolition of selection and the introduction of comprehensive schools. Generally regarded as an effective leader, it has been suggested he was reluctant to support militancy amongst teachers, preferring to keep the membership of the union together. == References ==