Roger Drayton


Roger Patrick Blundell Drayton was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Biography

Early life and career

Drayton, born in Templeton. He attended schools at Sockburn and Hornby before finishing his education at Christchurch Boys' High School.
Drayton trained at Wigram after enlisting in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1944, serving until 1969, by which time he had risen to the rank of Squadron leader. He served in the administrative section of the RNZAF and served abroad in Australia, Fiji and Singapore. Following World War II he was employed as a computer systems analyst for the Ministry of Defence.
He was a keen sportsman and represented the RNZAF services teams in both cricket and soccer. He was the secretary of the Combined Services Sports Council in 1959. In 1955 he became secretary of the Ellesmere Cricket Association.

Member of Parliament

He represented the St Albans electorate from 1969 to 1978, when he retired. He became Labour's caucus secretary and later was Chief Opposition Whip between 1976 and 1978.
In 1973 he stood unsuccessfully for the Labour Party vice-presidency, but was beaten by Grey Lynn MP Eddie Isbey.

Later life and death

Drayton died at his home in Paraparaumu after a long illness aged 61, survived by his wife, son and daughter.