 During World War II, Longhurst was also a member of parliament (MP) for Acton in west London, England.Longhurst was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017.Longhurst was born at Bromham, Bedfordshire, the son of (William) Henry Longhurst who established the firm of Longhurst & Skinner, a house-furnishing business at Bedford, and his wife Constance (née Smith).