Brynmor John

Brynmor John was a British politician and member of parliament (MP). He suffered from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and died as he left the House of Commons gym in 1988 at the age of 54, after having been advised to exercise his way through the illness.

Professor Malcolm Hooper wrote about his death: "On 13th December 1988 Brynmor John MP died from ME/CFS. His experience of the illness was all too familiar: ‘Though there is only a slight gradient from our house to the main road, it could have been the North face of the Eiger. I just could not get up it’. He found himself unable to dress; the slightest exertion exhausted him and it took days to regain his strength. He was irritated by the profusion of psychiatric comment and was trying to ensure better understanding of ME/CFS (Perspectives, Summer 1991:28‐30). Brynmor John suddenly collapsed and died as he was leaving the House of Commons gym after having been advised to exercise back to fitness."