Jack Shingfield - Workers Union

Jack Shingfield
Workers Union - Eastern Counties




William John Shingfield (known as Jack) was the son of an agricultural labourer and member of Joseph Arch's Agricultural labourers union in Suffolk.

Shingfield became a footman, but his skills in organising nsured he became a key Workers Union organiser in Essex and Suffolk from around 1913.


Shingfield helped establish numerous Workers Union branches in villages and towns between 1913-1914 in Suffolk and Essex, becoming the Eastern Counties organiser of the Workers Union.

He lived at 127 Wellesley Road, Clacton on Sea and was the first elected Labour councillor on the Clacton Urban District Council and later its Chairman.

Involved in organising workers at textile factories at Haverhill in August 1914 and January 1915,

Reported injured on WW1 casualty list September 1917, 


Organised a huge Workers union "Pageant of the Workers" at Bury St Edmunds on 15 June 1919

Member of Suffolk and Essex Agricultural Wages Board in the 1920's

Sudbury Labour Party formed Febuary 1923


He was Labour candidate for Sudbury in 1925-1933  and was responsible for organising many rural Labour Parties in Sudbury and Essex (notably Halstead Labour HQ in 1918)


Later he was appointed Divisional organiser of the Transport & General Workers Union based at 8 High street, then Military road, Colchester and was chair of the TGWU Agricultural sector. (now Unite)

Retired in 1950 and awarded an MBE in 1950

Other workers Union organiser

Florence Saward
Robert O Hornagold

Labour Candidate
Joseph Rouse Hicks Labour Party/Agriculrual workers candidate Sudbury 1918

Jack Shingfield - Workers Union

Jack Shingfield
Workers Union - Eastern Counties




William John Shingfield (known as Jack) was the son of an agricultural labourer and member of Joseph Arch's Agricultural labourers union in Suffolk.

Shingfield became a footman, but his skills in organising nsured he became a key Workers Union organiser in Essex and Suffolk from around 1913.


Shingfield helped establish numerous Workers Union branches in villages and towns between 1913-1914 in Suffolk and Essex, becoming the Eastern Counties organiser of the Workers Union.

He lived at 127 Wellesley Road, Clacton on Sea and was the first elected Labour councillor on the Clacton Urban District Council and later its Chairman.

Involved in organising workers at textile factories at Haverhill in August 1914 and January 1915,

Organised a huge Workers union "Pageant of the Workers" at Bury St Edmunds on 15 June 1919

Member of Suffolk and Essex Agricultural Wages Board in the 1920's

Sudbury Labour Party formed Febuary 1923


He was Labour candidate for Sudbury in 1925-1933  and was responsible for organising many rural Labour Parties in Sudbury and Essex (notably Halstead Labour HQ in 1918)


Later he was appointed Divisional organiser of the Transport & General Workers Union based at 8 High street, then Military road, Colchester and was chair of the TGWU Agricultural sector. (now Unite)

Retired in 1950 and awarded an MBE in 1950

Other workers Union organiser

Florence Saward
Robert O Hornagold

Labour Candidate
Joseph Rouse Hicks Labour Party/Agriculrual workers candidate Sudbury 1918

Miss Florence Saward - Workers Union

Florence Saward (centre of picture) was the daughter of an agricultural labourer from Braintree, Essex

Saward became a Workers Union organiser in Essex and Suffolk around 1913 and as the Chelmsford Chronicle stated (10 December 1938) "came to prominence " during the 12 day Braintree Courtaulds Silk Mill girls strike in November 1913 and the Witham Silk Glove girls strike which started on 27th February 1919.

She was also involved in Workers Union and later TGWU activities in London and Portsmouth and also the Labour Party in Essex and Suffolk.

The Harvest of 1919 - Agricutural Labourers

HARVEST OF 1919 IN PERIL

The Daily Graphic 29th January 1919

DEMOBILISATION  OF  AGRICULTURAL

LABOURERS TO BE SPEEDED UP
 
In consequence of the critical situation agriculture during the next few months, owing lately to the abnormal rainfall, it has been decided to give priority to agricultural labourers in demobilisation.                         .
 
For the same reason the Government intends to continue to employ the soldiers now in agricultural companies and the German prisoners on the land until there are a sufficient number of skilled civilians to take their places.
         
Unless the crops are put in within a few weeks the harvest of 1919 will be short.   During the war, farmers in England and Wales have lost more than a third of their skilled men, the number before the war being 717,000, as compared with 431,000 at the present time.

The deficiency, however, has been reduced to the extent of 100,000 by the employment of soldiers and prisoners of war.  

But in this connection it must be borne in mind  that there are now 1,600,000 more acres under cultivation now than there were before the war


Pictures German POW's working on the land at Hainault, Essex circa 1917

 

Discharged WW1 soldiers working the land Cheshire

WW1Woman land worker harrowing Cornwall with horses

Essex Men- Proud to go to jail for workers justice 1914

When the National Agricultural Labourers Union was established in May 1872, one of the most prominent exponents in the County of Essex was Charles Jay of Codham Hall near Braintree,

It was Charles Jay who visited many villages throughout Essex in 1872, on a number of occasions accompanied by Joseph Arch the NALU General Secretary


According to the Essex Standard July 1872 "Mr Jay..... had done much to promote trade unions"


The local the Essex Standard stated
The condition of the agricultural labourer is as bad as can be, he toils like a slave, lives like a pig and often dies like a dog, with no pleasure but an occasional debauch at the ale house, no prospect but that of the Workhouse for an old age of rheumatism and misery'


However, the opposition of the farmers, especially in East Essex was intense, especially after the formation of the East Essex Farmers Defence Association

In April 1872, it was reported that Essex refused to pay more than 2s a day for 12 hour day and that they had formed a Farmers Association, who actively encouraged farmers not to employ union agricultural labourers and to give one weeks notice of dismissal to those that had joined the union.


Numerous victimisation's and sackings of National Agricultural Labourers Union members and union officers took place around the village of Halstead near Braintree,


Mr J. Brewster of Ashford Lodge, Halstead even issued a leaflet to local labourers in which he stated that he would
"Allow his horses to stand idle, his land to run to grass before he will be dictated to by an irresponsible body like the Agricultural Labourers Union."

It was reported in the Buckinghamshire Advertiser for August 1873 that

The local branch secretary of the Saffron Walden National Agricultural Labourers Union and two others had been prosecuted for intimidation of non-union, non-resident agricultural labourers present in the Parish of Ashton (probably Ashdon) and that the Local Branch Secretary of the Union had promised to "return with 200 men".......................................He was subsequently imprisoned in the Parish Cage.......................The result was a general rising in the Parish and all labourers left work and threatened further violence if the prisoners were not liberated. Subsequently Rev J Waller (?) resident magistrate released them

In late August it was reported that three Union members (from Ashdon) were sent to prison for a fortnight including Mr Cracknell, Mr Abbs, Mr Newham, (Mr Bottisham on bail)


Again in February 1874, Labourers at Exning near Stowmarket demanded a rise of one shilling a week.

However, the tide had turned, that same month the Liberal Government was defeated and the Conservatives returned with their first significant majority since 1841.

The farmers buoyed by the general election result, had no further need to hesitate for fear of the political consequences and launched a full frontal attack on the union, the the farmers in the "Newmarket Farmers Defence Association' responding with a lockout which lasted until 27th July, when the men had little option but to return to work.


The high level of opposition in Essex forced many agricultural labourers, loyal to the union to migrate to the North of England (or Australia), where they also received better wages

In at least one case a labour agent from Yorkshire came to Saffron Walden to secure 40-50 men offering to pay them 18s per week

A.F.J Brown in his book " Meagre Harvest" published 1990.
This is an account of the establishment of the National Agricultural Labourers Union in north Essex during the last quarter of the 19th.century.

" The Rector of Foxearth was commended for letting the local branch of the labourers union hold a meeting in the school room".From the same source;" Foxearth farmers were commended for being less despotic than most".

The Borley blacksmith was also commended for making his smithy available for the local branch of the N.A.L.U.

Farmers attempts to decide on a local rate of wages, often failed when some of the farmers paid a better rate.Some farmers in a particular village lacked the desire to or spirit to enter into a prolonged contest with the local N.A.L.U.branch, Foxearth farmers seem to have fallen into this category".

While the NALU "The National" had died out in many areas by the late 1880's, Joseph Arch records that in 1890-1891 new branches and new membership flowed into the union from Essex and Norfolk


Around 1912 the newly established National Agricultural & Rural Workers Union based in Norfolk was making inroads into Essex.

By February 1914 the Essex Farmers had decided to revert to a the tactic of "locking out " and evicting agricultural labourers who had joined the union, no doubt to fight one of the lowest wages in the country at just 13 shillings per week. (only worse in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire)

The local leader of the union was Charles Smith of Helions Bumpstead (branch established October 1913)where the lock out had begun,

In May the lock out turned into an offensive as the Union wrote to all farmers in the area outlining their demand as 16 shillings per week and hours of work 6am to 5pm and half day Saturday

The 800 strikers were supported by the local organiser C.H. Walker of Fakenham who held meetings Birdbrook and Ashdon, Alan Dobson President and Charles Jenkinson Secretary of North West Essex Federation of the union, Joseph Flitton, Cambridgeshire NA&RWU union organiser. But it was James Coe of Norfolk who was in charge of the dispute from the national union as national organiser of the National Agricultural & Rural Workers Union


The strike spread quickly to Birdbrook, Ridgwell, Steeple Bumpstead, Strumer, Ashdon (across the border into Whittlesford, Castle Camps, West Wickham, Weston Colville in Cambridgeshire) and even as far as Withersfields, Suffolk

Regular mass meetings were held in the villages, village to village procession with banners, flags (especially red ones) and songs, torchlight demonstration at night,

Speakers included George Lansbury MP , John Scurr (later MP for Mile End) and Rev Edward Maxted the "Socialist" vicar of Tiltly. But the largest meeting was to hear Sylvia Pankhurst speak and it was her who led a procession through the village of Helions Bumpstead at which over 2,0000 were present on Sunday 26th July 1914

Arguable the "Militant" strike centre of the dispute was at Ashdon, Essex, Where over 70 police officers had to be stationed to keep order, being billeted in Rose & Crown

Picketing and attempts to dissuade "scabs" (which included attempts to secure 400 Irish labourers) led to eight men Ashdon Agricultural Labourers being sent to Prison for refusing to pay fines imposed by Saffron Walden County Sessions (Court) at which two received £2 fines and six received £1 fines plus costs.

They were

Walter Webb
Samuel Chapman
Thomas Symonds
Walter Symonds
Charles Smith
John Smith
James Marsh
Walter Marsh,

The convicted men of Ashdon, after an abortive march (with 200 supporters) to Saffron Walden to hand themselves, were finally arrested in the village taken to Cambridge jail. For many in the village of Ashdon they were looked upon as hero's for year to come.

other union members imprisoned included
John Barnes - Steeple Bumpstead (six months)
Arthur Bentley - Steeple Bumpstead (two months)
Walter Clayden - Steeple Bumpstead (two months)
William Cressell - Helions Bumpstead (one month)

While the Agricultural Labourers went to jail for picketing, a farmer who drew his revolver and fired a shot at the strikers, had his case dismissed by the same court

The police were now patrolling the villages night and day, this not stop the attacks on imported "blacklegs", their lodging houses, unsympathetic shop owners premises and of course the local Conservative club or indeed the firing of hay stacks, which lite up the rural night sky, in what must have seemed a throw back to the "Swing" Riots of the 1830's


The strike was far from being settled, when the impending outbreak of World War One, forced the protagonists to resolve the situation.

Agreement was finally reached on 3rd August 1914, just one day before war was declared and the men returned to work 5th August at a rate of 15 shillings a week and £8 for harvest, most men re-employed and the Union had secured a limited but significant victory.

As for the men of Ashdon imprisoned, they were given a choice between imprisonment or volunteering for the army", of the eight only one opted for the army, Walter Marsh who survived nineteen years in the army, eventually dying in 1971 aged 89

Roy Brazier - The Empty Fields 1989

Photo at Ashdon 1914

Great Yeldham, Essex Won for The Reds - 1967

GREAT YELDHAM Reading Room 1967,

9 p.m. Tuesday, May 9th, 1967 Counting of votes had just been completed. I became aware of a buzz of excitement from the comrades who were my counting agents, and realised that we had made it—I was elected Communist councillor for Halstead Rural District.

Visions of the next three years flashed through my mind—how to cope with my new work, my job, running my home, my plans to go to teacher training college, to increase my family or not?

The Returning Officer declared the result: elected Labour, 232; myself, 142; not elected "Independents", 134 and 123. The defeat of the former was a great victory. He is a Tory farmer, a councillor for 21 years, the last four of these as Chairman of the RDC, and had been unopposed for eighteen years.

I was also elected to Great Yeldham Parish Council with 146 votes, sixth of seven successful candidates from a total of twelve nominations. The top vote here was 224 and the bottom one 132.

Newcomer

How was it that I, a comparative newcomer to the village (we moved here from London seven years ago) had gained this seat at only my second attempt? I feel it would be helpful to deal with the previous election in some detail, as this will give the background against which our campaign was fought.

Prior to 1964 two Tories, standing as Independents, had been returned unopposed for eighteen years. Halstead Communist Party decided that there must be a contest, and it was agreed that I should stand for both councils.

On the evening before nominations closed. Labour's young prospective Parliamentary candidate for Saffron Waldon approached us personally and asked us to stand, so that at least there would be a poll. He was delighted to learn that I was standing, and said he would try hard to find another candidate so that electors could register an anti-Tory vote. This he managed to do literally at the last minute.

The branch decided to put out an election address—a very simple, duplicated affair consisting of one foolscap sheet turned on its side, and folded down the middle, with our message on the inside. We made five brief points council rents, public transport, Halstead Hospital, council meetings and an offer to take up problems for constituents, and added a "potted biography".

There was a difference of opinion in the branch about saying that I was in fact a member of the Communist Party ("Candidates do not normally stand on party tickets in the rural district", etc.) but after discussion it was agreed it was essential that this should be quite clearly stated or' half of the value of contesting would be lost.

The fact that we put out an election address at all made history in Great Yeldham, and reports were that the electors were very appreciative. "It shows she cares", was the comment that came back to me. At the eleventh hour both Tory and Labour produced statements, neither of which contained any positive proposals.

In fact Labour's referred mainly to the work of their candidate's late husband, who had been an Essex county councillor.

There were 539 on the register of electors. I did no canvassing. The result was: elected Labour, 195; Tory (chairman), 174; not elected Tory, 141: and myself, 73. (I polled 86 for the parish council, coming ninth, out of 12 candidates for seven seats.)

The Communist Party considered these results very gratifying, especially in view of the fact that my full-time work as a secretary took me out of the village all day.

After this election Halstead branch of the Communist Party took the decision to contest again in 1967. It might here be useful to mention that although we are called Halstead branch in fact we have only one member, an old-age pensioner, living in Halstead, and a further six of us in three widely scattered villages.

In the intervening three years we had made a number of valuable contacts through organising a rents campaign in 1964-65, letters to the press, committee work on the Cottage Garden Society.

(Although our garden is the most realistic jungle for miles around I justify my membership by taking prizes in the annual show for home-made jam, cakes, etc.!)

In January 1965 our son, David, was born and through attending clinic at Yeldham I got to know other mothers.

Motherhood also meant that for some 21 months I was not gainfully employed, and was therefore possibly seen about the village, and able to talk to people, a little more than hitherto. (My trade union work is done in Braintree C & AWU branch, twelve miles away, so I have no local contacts on that account.)

Rents up

In December of last year rent increases of up to 38 per cent for the entire rural district were decided upon by Halstead RDC, this in an area

where agriculture and semi-skilled engineering are the main occupations, in the middle of "the freeze" and when there was a considerable amount of short-time working in the area. The tenants were incensed, and formed themselves into a tenants' association with a Great Yeldham branch. I gave all the support I could, and was well received by them in my turn. As the local elections drew near the association announced that it would be putting up two candidates in Yeldham.

We approached them about the possibility of withdrawing and transferring their members' support to the Labour candidate and myself, pointing out all the implications of a split vote. They

decided that their candidates should stand down provided the association received an assurance from us both thatwe would do everything possible for the tenants. (They told me that in my

case this was only a formality, as my support to them from their inception, my attendance at their public meetings, letters to the press, etc. proved my sincerity.)

Our election campaign was concentrated into one week. My address, with policy basically the same as in 1964, went out to an increased electorate of

636. We decided to canvass. I was rather surprised, when we began, to find I was being very warmly received, and immediately made up my mind to canvass every house in the village.

There was considerable support from the women, unity with local Labour Party members and, I have since learned, canvassing on my behalf in the local factory and Catholic Church!

One point worth mentioning is the fact that a number of people said they were going to use only one of their two votes, and this would be for me. I urged them to vote for the Labour candidate as well, as it was important to keep the Tories off the council.

A few days prior to polling, the tenants' association distributed their newsletter in which they called on members to vote for the two working-class candidates. There is no doubt that this was an important contributory factor in my election to the RDC.

After the election, I was warmly congratulated by many villagers, and got the feeling that they felt it was "our victory" over the Tories. The stir caused by my victory has been quite widespread in East Anglia, and has resulted in a lot of good publicity for our Party.

It was covered by the East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich Evening Star and the Essex Chronicle. Anglia Television sent a photographer along, and gave a decent newscast over a (very bad!) picture of me. I have been interviewed by the Evening Standard, one of the women's magazines will shortly be spending a day with me ona full-length feature and photographs, and The Scotsman has asked for an interview because of my strong Scottish connections.. (My paternal grandfather, Malcolm Macfarlane, was a foundation member of the Party.)

Since my election I have been approached by several electors to take up cases for them, and I have arranged to have permanently displayed outside the reading room (village hall) my notice that I shall be available for interview on the first Monday evening in each month.

I would like to say that nothing I have yet done in my life (with the possible exception of giving birth to my son) has given me quite the same sense of achievement as this. An extremely important factor was the strong teamwork of my own branch, that of Sudbury, and of Harry Fawcett, our Communist Party district secretary.

And now the work really begins. . . .

Source Comment 24th Jun 1967

Rev Charles Jenkinson - Essex/Leeds Socialist & Trade Unionist

Rev Charles Jenkinson

Revered Charles Jenkinson born 1887 Poplar, the son of a stone mason, he won a scholarship to Oxford.

In 1912 Jenkinson had became lay secretary to the Socialist Reverend Conrad Noel at Thaxted, Essex.

Jenkinson later helped establish many early branches of the National Union of Agricultural Workers in Essex.

In February 1914, he was involved with the Agricultural & Rural Workers Union recruitment campaigns in Essex,



Jenkinson was the secretary of the North Essex Federation of the union, during the period that the Tory farmers of Helions Bumpstead sacked their labourers for refusing to resign from their union.

It was Jenkinson along with union General Secretary C. H. Walker (Fakenham) and Alan Dobson who offered the leadership to the workers fight against the farmers victimisation.

However, the farmers lock-out spread to other areas, as Ffarmers set out to destroy the union. Soon lockouts occurred in Ashdon, Steeple Bumpstead, Sturmer, Ridgewell and Birdbrook, later spilling over into into Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. On the 26th July 1914 Sylvia Pankhurst addressed 2,000 people on the green at Helions Bumpstead.

The lockout was finally ended on August 3rd, the day before Britain declared war against Germany, all the men being reinstated and securing the release of the Ashdon Eight Martyrs from jail.

Jenkinson was involved with Rev Conrad Noel in the Establishment of the Catholic Crusade (a radical socialist Christan movement) in 1918.

After his ordination, Jenkinson became vicar of Holbeck, Leeds in 1927 and "Good old Jenky" was elected a Labour councillor for the area in 1930, one of the oldest and poorest areas of Leeds.

While in Leeds he carried out a great crusade to rid the City of it's slums, he estimated 33,000 slums the Tories estimated just 400. His vision was encapsulated in a programme entitled "Decent houses for All" which be came a blueprint for the first Labour administration 1933-1935 which made a start on seeping away thousands of slums.

In 1933 he became Chairman of the Housing Committee. In this role he was responsible for the demolition of 14,000 slum dwellings and building over 15,000 council houses, the pride of these house building schemes was Quarry Hill estate close to centre of Leeds based on Karl Marx Hof flats in Vienna and therefore the Leeds Quarry Estate was sometimes referred to as the "Marx Flats".

Despite Jenkinson spending millions as a Councillor to wipe out Leeds Slums, he personally lived a very spartan life, using a second hand bike and wearing a second hand coat. He died 1949

The Rev Charles Jenkinson made a significant impact on the lives of the people of Leeds and rural workers of North Essex, yet he has recievied very little recognition todate.





NOTES:

Conrad Noel (1869-1942) "Red Vicar" of Thaxted

Born in the Royal Cottages, Kew on 12th July 1869. Went to Cambridge
ordained (church of England) in 1898 and in 1899 became assistant priest to the vicar of St Philip's in Newcastle.

While at St Philip's Salford, Noel became involved in the Clarion socialist movement, Noel founded Church Socialist League in 1906, established by Stewart Headlam, and 1877 the Guild of St Matthew 1877-1909) Bethnal Green, working in slum areas in Paddington and the East End. He became Vicar in Thaxted from 1910. In 1911 and was elected to executive of the British Socialist Party.

Established the radical socialist "Catholic Crusade" on 10th April 1918 and the first mass being held on 13th April. Catholic Crusade even explored affilaition to the Third International.

Others involved in Catholic Crusade included, Rev Jack Boggis (secretary Braintree Labour Party), Rev Jack Putterill ( Thaxted) , Fr Harry Skellern, Rev St John B Groser (Stepney) , Rev Percy Dearmer - Parson's Handbook Primrose Hill)

Noel's allies included Ernest Maxted, the red vicar of Tilty (involved in the 1914 Essex Agricultural Labourers Lockout) , silk weavers at Halstead, and a number of radicals in Braintree. He was friendly with Gustav Holst who secured a holiday cottage close to Thaxted (where he began his famous work "Planets")


Conrad Noel is most famous for the "Battle of the flags" when his church at Thaxted flew a red and Sinn Finn flag.

THE ASHDON EIGHT
Ashdon, Essex Eight Martyrs 1914
Walter Webb, Samuel Chapman, Thomas Symonds, Charles Smith, Water Marsh, James Marsh, Walter Symonds and John Smith as part of their release they joined the Army in 1914 at the outbreak of the War, becoming hero's to the local people)

Ref: Rural Crusader November 1949

Clarion Club house (London)

LONDON CLARION CLUB HOUSE

The Clarion Cycling Club was established in 1895 by readers of the socialist weekly newspaper the Clarion.

Romford Clarion's were obviously very well organised and used the opportunity of the 1911 coronation to organise a Clarion Cycling Camp (June 22, 1911).

So successful was the Camp that in order to "escape the renewed searching for sites, the Sabbatarian rules and regulations of the English Sunday, and the smoke and turmoil of the Metropolis", the London Clarion Cycling section decided at a meeting on September 15th, 1912, to secure a Clarion Club House of their own.

The London Clarion Cycling Club entered into possession of the London Clarion Club House at Broadley Common, near Nazeing, Essex at Whitsun, 1913, and very soon established itself as the rallying point for the cyclists and the London Clarion Fellowship.

The London Clarion Club House is in the hamlet of Broadley Common, near Nazeing, Essex was about 17 miles from the G.P.O. and was said to be situated amongst picturesque rural surroundings, and near to the famous Epping Forest, the open moorland of Nazeing Common, and the historical neighbourhood of Rye House, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross, Ware and Hertford.

In 1914 the Clarion hadbook stated "Extensive developments on the estate are contemplated, and all interested Clarionettes and Socialists can assist by taking up 2s. 6d. shares in the Society. General Secretary : Jack Hinton, 5, Vine Street, Romford."

The Romford Clarion Club House closed at the end of 1920. The building still exists, although much altered, as a private residence.

The Romford Clarion Cycling club emerged as the the 1930's

Dagenham & Romford Clarion Cycling Club 1937

Chairman: Alfred S Haddock

Secretary: C. Ayrton 13 Treswell Road, Dagenham

Asst Secretary: L. Lovelock 126 Flamstead Road, Dagenham

Racing Secretary: E. Penegelley 34 Woodstock Avenue Harold Park, Romford

NOTE
Details of the Club House are to be found in the National Clarion Club Year Book for 1914 and 1937 Clarion Handbook

Denis Pye book on the Clarion Cycling Club, Fellowship is Life

CLARION SOCIALIST YOUTH HOSTEL

The Clarion Socialist Youth Hostel was established in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire from the early 1933 by the London Labour League of Youth and was used by the Labour Party until at least the 1950's.

The hostel was set in ten acres of grounds, with two pavilions, tennis courts, sports facilities for lecturers, classes and even a library,

In 1934 over thirteen thousand Labour League of Youth members (The League had over five hundred branches) camped at Hoddesdon.

Grace Oakden states

"We had a great deal of fun in those days as as serious politicking"

"Labour of Youth branches from all over London used to go there at weekends, camping. There was a big house there we used to have a wonderful times at weekends there. discussions at night, quite a big social programme, dances, a wonderful way of meeting people from London"

A picture is available (http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk) of the Clarion Youth Hostel van starts for Hoddesdon (Herbert Morrison on right), 1934. Herbert Morrison, (1888–1965) was a British Labour Party politician and Cabinet minister. Morrison held various cabinet posts, including Foreign Secretary, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Secretary.