Born in Leek, Staffordshire, he worked as a sorting clerk in the Post Office and spent a lot of time playing football, later becoming a referee.
[citation needed] He was elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in 1964, and was its President in 1975.
He was active in the International Labour Office, and served on its governing body from 1969 to 1977.
[1] Plant retired from his union posts in 1977 and became an advisor to the Police Federation.
[3] On 9 May 1978, he was created a life peer taking the title Baron Plant, of Benenden in the County of Kent.