Bert Hazell - President

Bert “Bertie” Hazell was Born 18th April, 1907, in Attleborough, Norfolk.

He attended various elementary schools in Norfolk. Bert began his working life as a bird scarer, being promoted to farmworker aged 14. By the time he was 16 he was in charge of six working horses

Bert Hazell joined National Union of Agricultural Workers (N.U.A.W). in 1923 and the South Norfolk Constituency Labour Party in 1927.

Bert undertook evening classes an emerged as a full time Labour Party election agent at the age of just 26

He was initially secretary and then paid organiser of North East Norfolk Constituency Labour Party from 1933 to 1937.

Labour agent to N. R. Tillett, Parliamentary candidate in East Norfolk in the 1935 General Election.

Bert Hazell Joined staff of National Union of Agricultural Workers as an organiser in May, 1937, working in Hertfordshire, Lea Valley and then Yorkshire During the War, in addition to work as district organiser of the N.U.A.W. for Yorkshire, Bert was a member of the West Riding of Yorkshire Agricultural Executive Committee, and North –Eastern Electricity Consultative committee.

Awarded the M.B.E. in January, 1946. Chairman Yorkshire Regional Labour Party 1945 and 1955 a member of the Leeds Regional Hospital Board, and for many years has been chairman of its Works and Buildings Committee. In 1947 appointed by Sir Stafford Cripps, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the East and West Ridings Regional Board for Industry. Appointed, in 1954, chairman of the Board. Created C.B.E. in January, 1962. Magistrate, in the City of York 1952. Served on the Central Agricultural Wages Board and three County Agricultural Wages Committees; also a member of local Employment Committee,

Bert Hazell Contested Barkston Ash, West Riding in 1945 (failed by 116 votes) and again in 1950

Labour Member of Parliament for North Norfolk from 1964-1970

Elected President of the National Union of Agricultural Workers NUAW in 1966 with Joan Maynard as his left wing Deputy President

Bert's Hobbies included gardening and a keen interest in York City Football Club

Bert Hazell was Married, with one daughter.

Quoted in Country Standard Autumn 1966, the journal noted that "It can be said he devoted his whole life and many talents to the Union. He has occupied many positions of public importance, but has never sought jobs for their own sake." Bert told the press after his election :"There is no doubt that the Unions were born in the poverty of industry yet have raised the standards of the workers and lifted them into a sphere never previously thought possible. This development must go on: and with greater worker representation on the management side of business".

and asked about his definition of Socialism Bert Hazell (Who Country Standard refered to as "distinctly to the right in politics" replied: "I believe that the ultimate creation of a Socialist state, achieved by Democratic means, to be the only true basis upon which mankind can fully share the fruits of man's labour and lead the full life I believe Creation intended. "Through Democratic Socialism at home and abroad, we can achieve a unity of purpose that could lead to World Peace, remove the poverty that exists over half the world' surface, take the prejudice out of the colour of one's skin (which is really an accident of birth), remove the cause of avarice and greed and really create the atmosphere on which all men regard each other a Brothers. "This may sound high falutin nonsense, but it must be our aim if we have real purpose in life."

Bill Holmes - Norfolk

William "Bill" Holmes

Born into a family stepped in radical tradition

Bill Holmes grandfather was the only man in his village to read, and he read Cobbetts Political Register in the village Inn.

Norwich was a Chartist stronghold and his Grandfather was jailed for his Chartist beliefs

His farther was active in organising workers into unions and was a member of the "Cordwainers Union" (shoemakers & cobblers union)

Started work aged 10 at Colemans Mustard factory in Norwich

Many of the workers at Colemans Mustard factory where former members of Joseph Archs "National Union" and according to Holmes "it was them who got me to join a union"

He joined the Norfolk & Norwich Amalgamated Union established in 1890, which was then 1,000 strong

On the collapse of the "Amalgamated" He later in 1904 became branch Secretary of a local branch of Gas & General Labourers Union, but despite his best efforts they refused to organise agricultural labourers

Active in Norwich Social Democratic Federation

Independent Labour Party (later Labour Party) organiser for Norwich at 25s a week

Elected councillor for Coslany ward on Norwich Council in 1905


Was Labour candidate for East Norfolk in 1929 and 1931 (The later when nearly sixty)


From 1911 Executive member of the National Agricultural & Rural workers Union and President from 1923-1928

General Secretary 1928 until he retired in 1944

Edwin Gooch MP - Norfolk

Edwin George Gooch 15th January 1889 – 2 August 1964.

born in Wymondham, Norfolk

County Alderman
In 1935 Wymondham Urban District Council was created. Edwin Gooch became the first Chairman of the new UDC and held the office for most of the period up to 1946. His wife, Ethel Gooch, became the council's first lady member in 1935 and its first lady Chairman in 1951.

Elected President of the National Union of Agricultural Workers in 1928 to 1967

At the 1931 general election, he was an unsuccessful candidate in the Conservative-held South Norfolk constituency.

Gooch did not contest the 1935 general election, but at the 1945 general election, he was elected as Member of Parliament for North Norfolk, He held the seat until his death shortly before the 1964 general election.

He was chairman of the Labour Party's NEC from 1955 to 1956

The Country Standard of Autumn 1964 stated

Death of Edwin Gooch

Generous tributes have appeared to the memory of the man who was the N.U.A.W. President; the first farm workers' M.P., in the modern age; Chairman of the
Labour Party and one who throughout his long life was in close and intimate touch with the workers he represented in so many ways.

There is no need to add to these in the "Country Standard" which in any case is of necessity very late with its appreciation.

We recall how in the very early days of this paper,before even the very first number had appeared, the Editor to be, who is the Editor still, went to get the
advice of Edwin Gooch and, if it might be, his blessing.

He got both and will never forget the friendly reception he received from Edwin and his first wife; followed by articles in the early days of the paper.

Brother Gooch must have violently disagreed with us on many occasions since; I hardly suppose he expected anything else for he was not a man who stood out conspicuously on the side of the Left any more than he committed himself to the right.

But I like to think, and I do believe, that he never regretted the existence of the paper to which he had been so generous in its beginning.

Jack Dunman County Standard Autumn 1964