John Frederick Ovenden (17 August 1942 – 17 July 2018) was a British Labour Party politician.

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2014) This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2014)

Born in Kent, Ovenden was educated at the Chatham House Grammar School in Ramsgate. From 1961 until 1974, he worked as an engineer with the Post Office. He joined the Labour Party, and served on Gillingham Council from 1966 to 1969, and again from 1972 to 1974.^[1]

Having fought Sevenoaks in 1970, Ovenden served as Member of Parliament for the marginal seat of Gravesend from 1974 to 1979, when he lost to the Conservative Timothy Brinton.^[1] He was Leader of the Labour Group and co-Leader of Kent County Council (in a Labour /Lib Dem Alliance) from 1993 to 1997- the only period of non-Conservative control in the Council's history.