All the union news that's fit to blog...
The Old English Goat has been labelled ‘critical’ by campaigners who are working to save this ‘desperately rare’ historic native breed from disappearing.
With an estimated population of just 74 living adult females left, the breed will be placed into …Read more…
CLARION APPLE
Robert Blatchford
A culinary apple.
Raised at Hunstanton in 1914 by nurseryman Frederick Chilvers by crossing the UK varieties Rev. W. Wilkes and Blenheim Orange.
Named after the Editor of ‘The Clarion’ newspaper, who also taught locally…Read more…
Louise MichelLeader of the Communards Paris Commune 1871 spoke (in French) to a large audience at Great Yarmouth 27th September 1891Read more…
Many early Independent Labour Parties (ILP) branches tried pioneering initiatives to help support their local communities at a time of great hunger and poverty.
Few, were more successful that that established by the Bermondsey ILP.
BERMONDSEY LABOUR C…Read more…
Frank Southgate RSA24th Sportsman Battalion Royal Fusiliers
Born Hunstanton Died France 23 February 1916 WW1Buried Lillers France Art Master at the progressive, socialist Ruskin School – Heacham Friend of Harry Lowerison – School Head & Cla…Read more…
Frank Joseph Delves Norwich & District Trades & Labour Council Address to Trades Union Congress held on Tuesday 4thSeptember 1894 at Norwich The unorganised district is the natural recruiting ground of the seater and tyrant . There…Read more…
PARTY COLOURS IN NORFOLKYou may think you know the colours used by political parties in the UK. However, it was not until recent times that colours were standardised. Quite often Cities, Towns and Counties had their own party coloursAs this repor…Read more…
On 11th November 1887, four of the Haymarket martyrs were executed in Chicago. They were anarchist labour organisers framed for a bombing by authorities because of their role in the fight for the 8-hour day. The holiday, International Workers Da…Read more…
School MealsWilliam Wilson, Labour MP for Westhoughton, Lancashire, Moved the Amendment to the Education Act to provide School Meals under the Education (Provision of Meals) Act 1906.We should also recognise the important role of Rachel & Mar…Read more…
“The headquarters of the present day Labour Movement in my town, faces that steeple on which William Kett was hanged, and we are continuing the fight that the Kett’s started so many centuries ago”Edwin GoochWymondham 1937
RADICAL NORFOLKRead more…
The Labour Earl – The First Labour Peer2nd Earl of Kimberley – Lord John Wodehouse(10 December 1848 – 7 January 1932)Kimberley House near Wymondham”The Earl of Kimberley who has now definitely thrown his lot in withe the Labour Party””I cannot he…Read more…
Sidney Dye MP (4 August 1900 – 9 December 1958) At 16 joined the National Union of Agricultural Workers, At 19 he was already secretary of Wells-next-the-Sea branch. 1919 he assisted the formation of Wells Labour Party. Attended Ruskin College …Read more…
Though there is no lonesome corncrake’s cry
Of sorrow and delightYou can hear the carsAnd the shouts from barsAnd the laughter and the fights The Corncrake for many, like Shane Macgowan in the lyrics of the Pogues “Lullaby of London” has a special…Read more…
HIDDEN FROM HISTORY
One of the first officially recorded strikes held in Norwich was undertaken by Women brushmakers in the City in July 1872
NORWICH STRIKE AND LOCK-OUT OF THE BRUSHMAKERSThere has been considerable agitation and excitement fur…Read more…
County Councillor Florence (Saward) Balaam famous Workers Union Organiser
Led the Braintree Silk Mill Girls Strike (and Bocking) Courtaulds strike in November 1913
and Witham silk Glove strike of 1919
Victor in elections over the Duchess of G…Read more…
THE NORWICH WEAVERS REVOLT OF 1826The Little Norwich Shawl Workerby Joseph Clover and engraved by T Overton, (below) This sketch illustrates an idyllic scene of a Norwich child weaver, of course nothing could be further from the truth.In the same…Read more…
Caroline Martyn Pioneering Woman & Clarion Van Speaker THE DUNDEE grave of a leading female trade unionist, who died on visit to the city over a hundred years ago, has been uncovered thanks to the detective work of a local Du…Read more…
Caister Socialist Holiday Camp opened 1906
Britain’s first holiday camp was organised by the Labour Movement and opened in 1906.
The Socialist Holiday Camp at Caister Norfolk was the first British holiday camp for families a…Read more…