Golightly served in the British Army in France during World War I, then returned to mining. He was elected to Seghill Council, and then later also to Northumberland County Council, representing the Labour Party. In 1927, he was elected as the president of the Northumberland Miners' Association. The union was affiliated to the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, and Golightly served on its executive from 1939. He also served as the union's compensation secretary, in which role he was known as being efficient but strict.Robin Page Arnot, The Miners, vol.3, pp.435-438
