Fidler, Michael, 1916-1989

Michael M. Fidler (1916-89) was born in Salford, the fourth child of two Lithuanian Jewish emigres, Louis and Golda Fidler, who ran a hardware shop in Salford. In 1924 Louis, with his brother Harris, established their own waterproof garment factory, H. and L. Fidler and Co. Ltd. Michael Fidler joined the firm in 1932 as a trainee factory manager. He was managing director of H. and L. Fidler Ltd., from 1941; of Michael Lewis Ltd., from 1942; and of Wibye Ltd, from 1968. He held a number of positions in the garment and clothing industry, as a member of the Clothing Advisory Committee of the Board of Trade, 1942-9; and joint chairman of the National Joint Clothing Council of Great Britain, 1953-7; honorary secretary of the British Rainwear Manufacturers Federation, 1941-8, and vice chairman, 1948-63. Michael Fidler was a member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews from 1942, its President, 1967-73, and chairman of its foreign affairs committee, 1973-9; and president of the Jewish Representative Council in Manchester, 1966-8. He had a distinguished masonic career and was a Grand Lodge officer from 1968 until his death. His political career began in 1951: elected as an independent councillor for Sedgley Park Ward, Prestwich Borough Council, he became Prestwich's first Jewish mayor in 1957-8, and he held a great many offices in organisations in the Prestwich area. Fidler later joined the Conservative Party and became MP for Bury and Radcliffe, 1970-4. He founded the Conservative Friends of Israel in 1974 and was its director until his death.