Page 1 Both of the books, Was It Worth It and Time Marches On, were written by my father in order to document the extraordinary struggle of one man who believed that all in the human race are equal and should be afforded the same opportunities and living conditions.

Both my father and my mother believed and encouraged the strong bond of love and comradeship between their family and all those who were in the struggle to gain equality. They both believed in the family and were, and still continue as, a shining example to all of us who still remain.

My father and mother were working class people who dedicated their lives to each other, their family and the working class movements. We, as a family, will miss them both. We have, in this book, a lasting and full account of their struggle and how they both found the time to give their love for each other and their family.

Sadly, neither he nor my mother will ever see full equality being practiced, nor will they live to see this book in its finished format.

I have reproduced the entire manuscript which was left by my father who died in January 2003, exactly 50 weeks after my mother. I do not apologise for any grammatical or spelling mistakes. The book is written as my father intended it and I faithfully reproduce his intentions here.

© Alan Hankinson 2003

Page 2 CONTENTS – Was It Worth It

Forward Dedication Chapter 1 In the Beginning Chapter 2 Starting Work Chapter 3 The second World War Chapter 4 Return to Blighty Chapter 5 Our Family Chapter 6 After the War and the Labour Government Chapter 7 Into the Sixties Chapter 8 The turbulent Seventies Chapter 9 The Gathering Storm Chapter 10 The National Pensioner’s Movement Chapter 11 The Labour Party in the 1990s Chapter 12 Conclusion Epilogue

Page 3 CONTENTS – Poems by Mabel Hankinson

Spring Summer Autumn Winter The Window of Time Genesis Life’s Work My Daily Prayer Begin Again The Work of Man Hold My Hand In The Cradle of the Deep Dreams of the Future

Page 4 CONTENTS – Time Marches On

Introduction Dedication 2001. Our Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren Sons and Daughters World Capitalism v World Socialism Back to the Family To Our Family

Page 5 FORWARD by Frank Hankinson.

This is the story of my life as an activist in the Trade Union and Labour Movement. My comment on the title "Was it Worth It”, is that the love of my wife and family is true, yet for the remainder of the story I leave to the reader to decide.

This story of my life spans the years from 1926 up to the present time of Writing, 1995, and I am still carrying on my activities at the age of 76 years.

During the years of my life, I have come into contact with many people with whom I was proud to be associated. They are so numerous that space will not allow me to name them individually, therefore my thanks and gratitude goes to the following organisations.

To the Officers, Branch Committee, and members of Walkden AEEU Branch, past and present.

To Officers and Members past and present of Bolton District Committee AEEU. To the members of Bolton and District AEEU Retired Members Association, also remembering and thanking the ladies who work in the local AEEU Offices, for the valued assistance they have given over the years.

My thanks to the Officers and Members, of the Salford Trade Union Council, who have been associated with me, for over 50 years.

My thanks to the Labour Party at Regional, Constituency, and Branch Level. Also, special thanks to the workmates, who supported me as a shop steward in negotiations and disputes with employers during my working life.

To all I dedicate the poem on the next page……..

Page 6 Working man I have faith in you, Tho' you're a damned fool in my eyes, I know full well how they've wasted you, And clotted your brains with their lies. I've heard the sleek parson preach to you, I've studied the dope of the press, And tho' they have made such a mess of you, I have faith in you nevertheless. For working men, there’s none but you, Can think in the vital way, Can look at life from the level of you, And fight for equality. There's that which I find in the soil in you, That brings the seed to flower, And Working Man, I have faith in you, In this World's most piteous hour. By Vic. Booth , Salford TUC.

Page 7 DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my wife Mabel, for the love and devotion she has given to all through our married life. In spite of her health problems, she has been able to type the manuscript of this story.

My thanks and gratitude goes also, to our six children, their wives and husbands, for the love and caring they have shown us.

Also to our Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren, who belong to this unique and happy family.

Frank Hankinson.

Page 8 WAS IT WORTH IT

CHAPTER 1

IN THE BEGINNING.

Everyone remembers where they were when a memorable event happened. Some remember where they were when Kennedy was assassinate, when man ‘walked’ on the moon or where they were when those aeroplanes crashed into the Twin Towers on September 11th 2002. I can, also, vividly remember where I was when my mother died and where I was, exactly 50 weeks later when my father died.

When my mother died, I was driving to Wakefield to collect my mother’s brother, Sid, so he could see her for one last time and when my father died I was in his hospital room with all my brothers and sisters. More of those memories later.

In this book I will recall those and many more memories in italic print so that I, too, have an enduring record of what I thought whilst I experienced life in our family. Here is my father’s story ……

I was born on the 30th. of March 1919, just after the first World War, in Hindsford Village in Lancashire. My father, who was a miner, was invalided out of the army, being wounded in 1917. He was a devout Roman Catholic at the time of my birth and my mother was a Methodist, but she changed her religion when she married my father.

They were blessed with six children, of whom I was the eldest, but two of my younger sisters, Maria and Dorothea, died in infancy from convulsions.

Page 9

Mum and Dad

Both my parents gave us a good family life and taught us to be straight and honest with other people. My earliest recollections of my father's teachings, was a quotation which he used to say to us, which was :- "Never do or say anything in life, which you would be ashamed of your mother seeing or hearing ".

Another of my early recollections was the 1926 General Strike, and the way my parents coped with the situation. My father, being a miner, was on strike for the whole period of the strike, and was victimised for his activity and support for the miner's cause, by never being able to get a job in the mining industry again.

I remember one morning, when my mother was distressed because my father was remonstrating with blacklegs, who were trying to leave our council estate and return to work. The blacklegs put forward the point that they had wives and children to feed, and my father replied that he too had a family to support, but he was not giving in to the coal-owners' demands for a cut in wages. Harsh words were coming from both sides, ending in fights taking place.

Page 10 The local Bobby, who lived on the estate, came and ended the dispute, being one of the same community on the Estate in Boothstown, Worsley. As far as I can recollect, no arrests were made and both sides went home.

During the whole event, both my mother and myself were crying and upset, and I remember my mother telling my father off as they were arguing about it all. Her words were "Do you want our Frank to become an agitator, like you`.'". I think it has rubbed off on me, as you will see from some of the comments that my wife and daughter-in-law have made in later chapters.

During the strike, my sister Joan and myself, like all the other miner’s children, had to walk to our school, with our father's pit can, for (Tater Hash), which was made from potatoes and a glance at some meat, and two thick slices of bread.

These were very hard times, but the community spirit survived. Despite all the suffering the miner's families had to endure, I remember some funny incidents taking place.

One day, during the school Summer holiday, the striking miners , who were helping the local farmer to gather hay for a shilling a day, allowed the children to accompany them on the carts drawn by horses.

The summer of 1926 was very hot, and of course it was thirsty work for the miners gathering hay, so the farmer allowed them at dinner time, to go into the public house, called the 'Red Lion', which was nearby.

The farmer made an agreement with the landlord that the miners', who were working for him, could have drinks on credit, or "On the Slate" as they used to call it. It was during one of these stops at the `Red Lion` as the children were having their lunch of bread and jam, or bread and dripping, that the miners came out looking well refreshed after drinking free beer. One miner, who was a stout chap, was heard to say, patting his fat belly lovingly, "Oh, Lord, make this our worst day."

In later years when I was much older and my father was reminiscing about the 1926 strike, recalled the incident of the free beer saga, and gave us the final sequel.

One evening, one of the miners went to the bar and ordered drinks for himself, and his friends. When the landlord had served him , he said, "Put it on the Slate, please". However, the farmer, who was in the best room , overheard the transaction at the bar, and exclaimed, "You will "Bloody Hell

Page 11 as like, put it on the slate". and he asked the landlord ".How much do I owe?". The landlord looked at his books, and after reckoning up, he turned to the farmer and told him the bill was Seventy Four Pounds. (The price of beer in 1926 was Four Pence a pint in old money.) Of course, this ended the "Beer on the Slate" for the striking miners.

The strike finally ended after long months of suffering by the miners and their families The miners were defeated, and I remember my father saying that they were let down by the T.U.C. and the Labour M.P's. After the strike, my father became a cleaner at the Lancashire United Transport Company, and worked there until he retired. It had been difficult for him to get a job because he was 'black-listed'.

I, also, remember one story which my grand father used to tell us when we visited them. He used to tell us of his experiences in the First World War when he was alone in a trench with two Germans running towards him. To his horror, he found he had only one bullet left in his rifle, and no time to reload it.

He quickly pulled out his bayonet, and held it at the end of the barrel. When he pulled the trigger, the bullet was cut in half by the bayonet and each of the two halves killed an advancing German.

When we were very young, we actually believed that story – or was it really true?

During the 1930s, as I became older, my father became active in the Labour Party locally, and I remember the arguments he used to have with his mother, father, sisters and brothers about the terrible conditions being endured by the working class, not only in this country but all over the world. Of course he showed an interest and support for the workers in Russia, which did not meet with the approval of his family, being devout Roman Catholics.

However, what severed my father's loyalty to the church was the Spanish Civil War. In 1936, when he tried to volunteer for the International Brigade that fought in Spain, but the pleading of my mother and his family deterred him.

Although he was disillusioned with the church, he still attended services along with his family, but what finally made him leave the church was, that on one Sunday morning, after the priest had finished Mass, he asked the

Page 12 congregation to pray for the soldiers of General Franco, the fascist dictator in Spain. My father got up from his knees, and walked out of church, never to attend again, and also told the priest, when he visited our home, that he was withholding his donation to the church, because he was not paying for them to say prayers for General Franco.

During this time, my mother, who was never an enthusiastic Roman Catholic, returned to her Methodist beliefs. Both she and my father decided that whilst we were children, we should be brought up believing in the good parts of Christianity. My mother had the steadying effect on her children, she was not politically inclined, but she taught us what was good and bad, and this, mixed with my fathers' concern for the working class, has held my brother and sisters on a path involving my mothers' favourite quotation which was;

"Do unto others as you would be done by`.

This then was my baptism during my childhood.

Page 13 CHAPTER 2

STARTING WORK.

In 1934 the family moved to Little Hulton, and I started work at J. R. Roscoe & Sons, Engineers, Little Hulton, as an apprentice. It was a family firm and non-union, my wage was eight shillings and four pence, (42 pence), for a forty eight hour week.

I recollect one morning while working there, when the manager, Mr. Roscoe was showing me how to screw-cut on a lathe, a man came into the workshop, approached the manager, and asked if there were any vacancies for centre- lathe turners. Mr. Roscoe asked him his name and he replied that it was Mr. Cox, (later to become known as Brother Cox, as he was a member of the A.E.U.).

He was then asked what experience he had as a turner. Brother Cox replied" I once fastened an elephant in the lathe with it's trunk, and bored it's arse-hole out, then screwed it with a left-hand thread." I couldn’t keep my laughter back, and Mr. Roscoe, who rarely smiled, also laughed, and said "Start work next Monday" Incidentally, Brother Cox was an excellent tradesman and became a big asset to the firm and employees alike.

There was also another character who worked there during my apprenticeship, his name was Joe, and as he was getting on in years, we called him "Old Joe". He had the habit of chewing tobacco, and was an excellent marksman when he spit out the juice, as I learned when I went to get a spanner from his lathe. I ended up with a filthy brown splotch on my hand, and 'Old Joe's' comment of "When you want anything, don't take it without asking"

Of course lots of tricks were played on new apprentices, such as sending us to the equipment stores for a ball of Whitworth Thread, a bottle of Spirit Level Bubbles and the long stand. For this, the Store man kept us waiting and standing there, so of course we got into trouble with the Foreman for wasting time.

Page 14 By this time, my wage, as I was now sixteen, had risen to twelve shillings, but my uncle Albert, who worked in the engineering industry, said that this was about ten shillings below the rate of pay. I therefore joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union at the Chowbent Branch, which met at the Glass Barrel Inn, in Hindsford, with the contribution being six pence per fortnight.

The most memorable incident, which took place on the night I joined the union was the Initiation Ceremony, The Address, being read to me was as follows:-

In joining our union you take your stand with all those who have fought to uphold it's principles. Your duty to yourself, your family and your class, demands that you at all costs, defend that heritage. May you long give service to the cause of Trade Unionism. May you live to see the day when the unity of the workers becomes so strong, that we can end the system that creates unemployment and poverty in the midst of plenty, and replace it with a just and equitable one, which will ensure a full and happy life to those who render useful service in society. May you honour and cherish that ideal, and strive for its' accomplishment." These words have been imprinted in my memory in all my activity in the Labour Movement and Union Procedures.

Having joined the Union, my father said that I should take steps in securing the correct union rate for apprentices. Therefore I went to my Branch meeting, and with the help of uncle Albert, who was a Branch Officer, I put my case before the meeting.

A short time later a full time Union official paid a visit to the firm and confronted the owners, saying that I was being paid below the correct union rate, and if this was not rectified, they would black the products being made at Roscoes, and as we did a lot of work for larger firms, where union

Page 15 organisation was strong, this had its' effect on the Management to pay me the correct rate

I was afraid at the time all this was going on, because I was being threatened, not only by the management, which was, I suppose, to be expected, but also by the workpeople, who said they would lose their jobs. Eventually, because I was a legally bound apprentice, and the management could not sack me, they paid me the union rate. of course, the other workers had to be paid the union rate as well.

This then was the start of my union activity, as I coaxed all the other workers in the factory to join the union, this was in 1936.

After this victory, and my first taste of trade unionism, my father was proud of the fact that one of the members of his family had been involved in a victory for the working class. Although my mother, like myself, was afraid of the outcome, and criticised my father, by saying I would be black-listed, although she was, secretly, also proud of the achievement, warned me to be careful, as jobs particularly apprenticeships, were hard to get in the 1930s.

Meantime, both my parents were concerned about my lack of Technical Education, which I did not receive whilst attending the Holy Family Roman Catholic school in Boothstown. However, I must say that they taught me a good deal of common sense and moral values. Therefore I enrolled as an evening student at Worsley Technical College studying technical and practical and academic engineering. I attended far three nights a week, (there was no such thing as day release for apprentices in those days.)

I particularly remember both my mum and dad wanting the best of education for their children. When I was about 10 years old they paid for both me and my sister Susan to attend private lessons in Bolton. Those lessons were to learn shorthand and typing and they were given by an old lady called Mrs Woods.

Susan and I used to catch the No. 42 bus from Walkden to Bolton and visit Mrs Woods who had a room at the corner of Bradshawgate. We were encouraged by my Aunt Mary who worked in a Solicitor’s office in Walkden. She knew Mrs Woods through her work and convinced both mum and dad that the lessons would enhance our prospects.

Page 16 My mum and dad have never been well off and I am sure that those lessons were a great sacrifice to them. We attended the lessons for about two years Of course, being a teenager, I had mates who played such games as cricket, football and snooker, all of which interested me, and I was tempted and occasionally submitted, to the temptation of going with my mates to the local Billiard Hall instead of going to night school. This was happening frequently, and my father, ever vigilant, was always questioning me about my progress at night school.

One evening, my mates again persuaded me to go and play snooker, but whilst playing, I was conscious of what my parents would say if I failed my examinations at night school, so I suddenly decided to pack in my game of Snooker, and go to night school.

The evening classes were between the hours of seven and nine o'clock, I arrived at the College around 7-45p.m., and I was sneaking past the principal's office, when he came out and caught me going to my class. He questioned me about why I was late, and I told him I had been working overtime. He then took hold of my arm and led me to the classroom, where my class was in progress.

On arriving there he stopped the class, and pointed me out as an example of a young man, who, although he had been working overtime, had realised that education was so important that he came to night school from work. Needless to say, I was so ashamed, I never missed any more classes.

In later years, 1968, I became a Governor of the College, and in 1988, I was appointed Chairman of the Governing Body.

However, the 1930s. were eventful years, not only for me and my family, but for Britain and the rest of the world. Fascism took over in Italy and Germany, causing suffering to the working class people, and creating situations for military intervention in other countries, Spain, Poland, Abyssinia etc. It was inevitable that war was going to start, and on September 3rd. 1939. the second world war began.

Page 17 CHAPTER 3

THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

As a result of the preparations for war, my mates were being called up for National Service, this left me still working in the engineering industry, because it was a reserved occupation, but I was having none of this, and on September lst.1939, at the age of 20 years, I volunteered. This situation caused a problem between my employer and the army, because I was a legally bound apprentice. Eventually it was resolved when my father agreed to wave the legal agreement with J.R. Roscoes', my employer.

I joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper, on the understanding that I would take an army trade test, to become an army tradesman. After six weeks square bashing, weapon training and guard duties, I took my trade test, and was then posted to Rennes in Brittany, France, as a centre-lathe turner, to the Base Workshops there.

The first few months of the war went on as if nothing was happening, our workshop was situated by the side of a main railway, and we saw plenty of movement of troops and equipment towards the Front. In the Workshop we were making components for various pieces of army equipment, but

Page 18 we had plenty of time to visit the town of Rennes when we were off duty, here life seemed to be going on as usual.

Of course when we went out on the loose, we visited the cafe's where we could get beer and other alcoholic drinks, so that by the end of the evening we were all quite a bit inebriated, to say the least. I remember one night as we were returning to the camp, that our route took us past the officers' quarters and we were all singing as our commanding officer approached us from the opposite direction, and being a windy night, a gust of wind blew off his hat and he called for us to pick it up as it rolled towards us. There were five soldiers in the group, and as the hat reached us, one of our number, named Paddy, took a running kick at the hat, which went flying over the Officers' quarters, and being merry, we all burst out laughing.

Of course, this being a serious offence, and seen by other officers, we were all arrested and bungled into the guard room, where we stayed until next morning. Then we were brought before the Commanding Officer and charged with insubordination and damage to army equipment (the Major's hat), of course, the Major himself was the principal witness.

After putting his case of what had happened, he asked us if we had anything to say. At this point, Paddy spoke up, admitting that it was he, who had damaged the hat by kicking it. The outcome was that Paddy received twenty-eight days detention, and the rest of got seven days confined to Barracks, with pack drill and "Jankers".

This meant that we had to work in the workshop during the day and when we returned to camp in the evening, we had to do our punishment. As for Paddy, he was taken away to a detention camp, and after finishing his twenty-eight days detention, he was posted to another unit of the army, and unfortunately we never saw or heard of him again.

Christmas came upon us all in Rennes in 1939, and we made the best of it, extra rations were allowed, and the officers and NCOs served us with our Christmas dinner. I received a parcel from home, containing goodies, Balaclavas and mittens.

My father sent me a book called "Red Star Over China", written by an American journalist named Snow. It was a most interesting book which once again stirred my Socialist beliefs, but, however tolerable, it was not like Christmas at home.

Page 19 After the Christmas break, we carried on as usual in the workshops, the weather was one of the worst on record, in 1940. Heavy snow falls and freezing conditions, which was probably why so little military activity seemed to be taking place. However, later in the Summer, when we were at the workshops, we noticed something most unusual happening. We saw trains passing the workshop, which were loaded with military equipment and soldiers, but they were not going in the direction of the front, but in the opposite direction. These journeys increased for about a fortnight, and we also noticed an increase in motor vehicles passing through Rennes, and the local people did not seem as friendly to us as we marched to and from the workshops.

Then one day we were all told to pack our kit, and board the transport which took us to the railway station. When we arrived, the rumour had it that we were on our way to the front, instead, after two days travel, we arrived at the port of Brest having endured the taunts of the population, who were shaking their fists and booing us.

On our arrival at Brest, we disembarked and were marched to the hills overlooking the harbour of Brest, which was being bombarded by the Germans. We stayed in position for about twenty four hours, and during the lull between air raids, we started smashing up military equipment, so that it would not fall into enemy hands.

By this time, we had heard that the main allied forces had been evacuated from Dunkirk, some days before. It looked as though we were trapped in France, because from where we were in the hills, we could see no boats in the harbour, but then to our relief, we saw a warship, which turned out to be a British Destroyer, so we were told to get ready to move.

There were some two hundred soldiers in our unit, and when we arrived at the docks, we saw a boat which was used for transporting coal. We were all hoarded on to the open deck, where the coal was carried. We had to throw most of our personal belongings overboard, to lighten the load on the boat.

This, then was how we set sail far Britain, with only the clothes we wore, and a rifle and ammunition. We sailed through the night, on the open deck of this coal boat, hoping we would not be attacked by enemy aircraft.

We arrived at Falmouth at dawn the following morning, four days after the evacuation of Dunkirk by the allied forces. When we arrived at Falmouth we must have looked a real bedraggled lot to the onlookers, most of us

Page 20 being covered with coal-dust, which had been all over the boat. We had not even had a wash for three days, and also nothing substantial to eat or drink.

However, at this point, I would like to give thanks to the captain and crew of the Spartan for risking their lives in getting us back to Britain, also the Officers in charge of us. They efficiently organised our evacuation, which resulted in all the soldiers getting back without any casualties.

When we came ashore, we were given huge bacon sandwiches and cups of tea, by the Women’s Voluntary Services and the Salvation Army, to whom I pay the greatest tribute. These volunteers looked to our comforts until the time came for as to be transported to our next destination. our thanks and gratitude to those people who welcomed us back to Britain on that eventful day, which I will remember all my life.

Eventually, after some time, we boarded a train. No-one, that is, in the other ranks, knew where we were going, but after a long journey, we finally arrived in Leeds, Yorkshire, late on in the evening and were billeted with different families in Meanwood, which is just on the outskirts of Leeds.

I don't think the authorities in Britain, knew about us, because our Officers, NCOs, and Council officials , were going all over the place, knocking on doors, to see if there was any room for us all. Eventually, the good people of Leeds came to our rescue, and I, along with a fellow soldier named Jimmy, were billeted with Mr. and Mrs. Jones who had two young children.

I think when we arrived we must have looked terrible, as we desperately needed a wash and shave. They soon saw that we had a bath, whilst Mrs. Jones, in the meantime, made us a meal of egg and bacon and fried bread, which was delicious.

The family looked after us in a grand way during our stay, which lasted some four or five weeks. Both Jimmy and myself were extremely grateful to them, and we clubbed together, to buy presents for the family when we left for Aldershot, in preparation for re-kitting and training.

During my stay in Leeds I got in touch with my family, and was allowed fourteen days' leave. Naturally, my mother and dad , brother and sisters were glad to see me, as I had been posted missing by the authorities, because, as I have stated, previously, my regiment were still in France when

Page 21 the evacuation of Dunkirk had been completed. (hence the hostility of the local people of Rennes, who thought we were deserting them.)

I was certainly glad to be back with my family: you don't realise how you miss your loved ones, until you experience the events which had befallen me.

After my leave was over, I returned to Leeds, where everything was made ready for us to move off to Aldershot. I said goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Jones and children, promising to keep in touch with them, which I did for a time, but while serving in the Middle East, contact was lost.

When we arrived in Aldershot, we were issued with fresh uniforms and clothing for use in tropical climates. This, then was an indication as to where we were going overseas. We were duly inoculated with various antidotes to protect us from tropical diseases, and of course we underwent more training in preparation for active service under tropical conditions. More reinforcements joined our unit, and a lot of them were old campaigners, who were regular soldiers, who taught a lot of old tricks to us.

One incident I recall was when we assembled for Church Parade:- The method of the Officer and NCOs. was to split us up into separate denominations, by giving the instruction:- "Those who are Church of England, fall out to the right, Roman Catholics and other denominations, to the left."

These orders were carried out, and various groups were formed to march to their different services. When they had marched off the square, there were only five of us left. The Sergeant Major approached us and asked us what religion we were, we replied, "The Salvation Army Sir." His reply was, " That happens to be my religion too," and he called us to attention, and marched us off to the Salvation Army services in Aldershot.

That was the first, and last time, I ever attended a Salvation Army Service.

Soon, however, final preparations were made for us, to once again leave Britain for overseas. We were given leave to say goodbye to our parents and loved ones. I spent my leave going round with my family to see our relations and friends, until the time came for the tearful goodbyes. This was in the Autumn of 1940, and I did not return until 1944.

After we returned to Aldershot, we set sail, finally arriving at Port Said, Egypt, after four weeks at sea. We then went to Abbasia Barracks, which

Page 22 were near Cairo. It was at these barracks that we were all split up and sent to various units. At that time, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, (REME), was formed, and so

I , being a centre-lathe turner, was posted into this unit.

Therefore, instead of being a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, I became a craftsman in the REME. We were then posted to a base workshop near Cairo, which also employed civilians, who were excellent tradesmen.

Of course, the army term for these Egyptians and Arabs, was Wogs, and unfortunately, a lot of the British soldiers thought that the locals were inferior to them but I made several friends. Especially with two Egyptians, one was called Said, and the other was named Mohamed, and they taught me many new ways of following my trade, which served me in good stead when I returned to civilian life after the war was over.

Both Said and Mohamed were devout Moslems, and I, having the seeds of Socialism imprinted in me, thought that their religion was very reactionary, in the way they approached earthly situations. One of the things I deplored, was the way they treated their women. As I saw it,

Page 23 Moslem women, especially after marriage, became the slaves both of their husband and his family. Many times we saw the women carrying all the loads, while their menfolk were riding on the backs of the donkeys.

Later on, I became friendly with a fellow soldier named John, who came from Tyneside. He, like myself, was a turner, and both he and I were invited to the wedding reception, when Mohamed was married. There was plenty of food to eat, but there was no sign of any women at the reception. This, of course was one of their customs, and should be regarded as such by us.

John and I became firm friends, and discussed our lives as civilians. He was also a fellow member of the Engineering Union, AEU. He was engaged to a girl in Newcastle, and one day, he received a letter from her, breaking off their engagement. This had a terrible effect on John for a long time as they had been childhood sweethearts.

I came to hear of several of these "Dear John" letters from many of my comrades, and the havoc it caused to the men who received them. I was fortunate, I suppose, I had no such attachments, as yet.

Life in the Middle East was boring at times, as we did not see much of the war, but the news from Britain was bad, with the Germans bombing our towns and cities daily and nightly. Then in 1941, Germany invaded Russia!! this news had a profound effect on me, because I had read a book which my father had sent me, named "The Socialist Sixth of the World", by the Dean of Canterbury, and one night after hearing the news that the Red Army was having successes against the Germans, we went out and I got drunk.

When we returned to barracks in a very noisy mood, singing the Red Flag and the Internationale, I was arrested for standing on the table after lights out, singing the Internationale. I was taken to the guard room, and next day I was brought up before the Commanding Officer, and given 172 hours detention in a Detention Camp. This was a most degrading experience for me.

I was locked up in a cell with no communication with other inmates. The only people we were allowed to speak to, were the NCOs in charge, and this was only to say, "Yes sir, and No sir'. Everything we did, had to be done at the double,(that is, on the run), such as pack drill, slopping out, and going for food, which was two meals a day, breakfast and evening meal, which we had to eat locked in our cells.

Page 24 On the final day of our detention, we were given extra drills, and abuse was more forthcoming from the NCOs in charge. I was released on the seventh day; the cell door was opened in the afternoon, I was told to get all my kit together, and when I had strapped on my pack, I was told to double, (run), to the offices, and made to stand in the hot sun to wait for the Sergeant Major to come out of the office.

It seemed like hours before he appeared, and he asked me my name and number in a very stern voice. Then he approached me and asked me where in Britain I came from, I replied "Worsley, Manchester, sir." He replied that he would not have thought he would see the day, when anyone who came from the area he came from would ever be in a place like this.

He came from Salford, he said, and went on to say, with his hand on my shoulder, "You have completed your punishment, and I don't want to see you back in here again". He then said to the corporal, "Take him away". I was made to run to the gate, and as the wicket-gate opened, the army lorry was waiting. I climbed aboard, and took a last look at the Detention Camp, and thought that no human being could treat another, like I and others were treated in that camp. I was made to double from the first day I entered, until I reached the gate on the day of my release, and as I rode back to my unit, I vowed that I would never go to any place like that again.

Back in the workshop, life went on as usual, until one day, enemy aircraft bombed the workshop. It was a sneak attack by a single aircraft which caused damage and casualties.

John and I, along with others, used to go in the canteen after we finished work, for a chat and a drink, we very seldom went into Cairo. Our Barracks were quite close to a Transit Camp, where units of the army passed in and out.

One day, a soldier from the transit camp came into the canteen and began to play the piano, he was an excellent player, and it soon became known that he was a member of one of the Symphony Orchestras in Britain. He played such pieces of music as the Warsaw Concerto, selections of concertos by Grieg, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and others. He stayed in the transit camp for a week, entertaining us quite Royally, and then he was posted to another unit. While he was amongst us, more and more other ranks and NCOs. went into the canteen, and he had a great influence on me, and my interest in Classical music.

Page 25 However, all good things come to an end, Rommel started his offensive in the Western Desert, Japan had entered the war, and extra troops were needed all over the Middle East, and the Far East.

To my disappointment, John was to be posted to Burma. It was a sad occasion, when he, and other friends said goodbye, we had been together for some two years or so. I was, as yet, not being posted, so I stayed with the base workshop for a few more months.

In 1942-43, the tide began to turn for the Allied Forces, both in Europe and the Middle East. Rommel had been defeated in North Africa, and the Russians were gaining on all fronts. I, as expected was posted to a field unit, and in the transit camp I became friendly with a soldier, who, like me was on the verge of becoming a Socialist.

His name was Allun, and he used to fancy himself as a poet, and we would both try to write about the coming of Socialism. Allun came up with the following poem::- There'll come a time when this struggle is o'er, And we return to Britain's shore, When war and tyranny is a thing of the past, And we all will find peace at last, But alas, will this be so', With International Capitalism as our foe. Our Ideals and realisation, Is for Socialism and Emancipation. So men and women lend a hand, And free us from this Capitalist band, Think not of yourselves and your petty strife, But of our children, and their future life. Wonderful sentiments, I'm sure you will agree. Unfortunately, Allun and myself were only together a short while before being posted to different units. I often wonder where he got to, and as I look at his poem, I wonder if our dreams have come true. More about that in later chapters.

When 1944 came, and everything was looking good for the Allied cause, I was posted to a transport unit, near Cairo, where plenty of sporting activity was taking place, for the benefit of soldiers returning from the Front. There was Cricket, Football, Tennis etc., and as I had been pretty useful at Cricket in civilian life, I soon got into the unit team as an opening bat, scoring some useful scores.

Page 26 This led to my becoming a regular member of our Command Team, who played a Gazera Sporting Club, in Cairo, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then one day, a notice was posted on the Company notice board, informing us that anyone with four years, or more, service overseas , would be entitled to be posted back to Britain.

Of course, I fell into that category, as I was in France from 1939 to 1940 and in the Middle East from 1940 to 1944. Naturally I, and all those who were affected, were delighted. Therefore, preparations were made for our journey home.

Page 27 CHAPTER 4

RETURN TO BLIGHTY

We embarked at Alexandria for Britain, this was a much shorter journey back home, than we took when we set out for the Middle East in 1940, the reason being that Germany and Italy had been cleared from the Mediterranean Sea.

We arrived back in Liverpool in November 1944, it was cold and dull, and then we were transported to Cavalry Barracks, York. we were issued with winter uniforms and sent home on disembarkation leave. Naturally, my family and relations were overjoyed, and I was glad to be back home with my father and mother, and sisters Joan and Mary.

My brother Bill was serving with the RAF. In the Far East, but he was due for leave in the near future. When my leave was over I returned to Cavalry Barracks in York, we did a bit of square bashing, and then I was posted to an engineering workshop in Fulford, which was run by the army and civilians. In the meantime, the second front was going well in Europe.

On the morning we arrived at the workshop, I was surprised to see women in ATS. uniform, also working at the benches.

We passed through the fitting shop to the machine shop, where we were introduced to the foreman, named Roddy. He was a middle-aged civilian, and he took me to the lathe which I had been allocated.

After about an hour, a buzzer sounded for tea break, and I looked down the shop and I saw an attractive ATS girl approaching with a cup of tea. She came up to me with the tea and, Roddy who was stood beside me said that I should be highly honoured to have a cup of tea, brought to me by Mabel, so that was her name. Mabel explained that she realised that I would have no cup at such short notice.

When we resumed work after the break, all the men in the machine shop were kidding me with the usual male sayings such as, “you'll be all right

Page 28 there, Frank", but Roddy came over to me and said, "take no notice of them, Mabel is a nice girl, they are only jealous".

The events that followed, made my stay in York the happiest days of the war service for me.

After meeting Mabel for the first time in the workshop, I did not go back there for about a week, because our unit had received instructions to be prepared to go overseas again, this time in Europe where the second front had been opened to relieve our Russian Allies on the Eastern front, and we had to be prepared to do special training, called block training.

One evening, I went along with some of my soldier friends, to the Barrack Tavern, which was next to the barracks, and as we entered, a sing song was taking place in the lounge, so in we went, and I was delighted to see Mabel with some ATS friends, one of them was a girl called Edith, who came from London, and she kindly made room for me to sit next to Mabel.

We had a very enjoyable evening, with a few beers for me, and cider for Mabel. During the evening I asked Mabel where she was billeted, and she replied that she was in the same barracks as myself, in the huts, alongside the square. So when time was called, we walked back to the barracks, and after telling her about myself, she told me her name was Mabel Robshaw, and that she came from Wakefield, in Yorkshire.

I found out just before I came back from overseas, her father had died, and I could detect the sorrow she felt. I said I was sorry at her loss, hoping that this would add some comfort to her grief. I then plucked up courage to ask Mabel if she would like to go out with me the following evening. I was aware she was engaged, as I had noticed the engagement ring on her finger whilst we were in the Barrack Tavern she replied that tomorrow was Friday, and she was going home to Wakefield for the week-end to keep her step-mother company.

Mabel told me she had three brothers, whose names were Bill, Ted and Syd, and a step-brother named Jim, who were all serving abroad. In addition, she had an older sister, May, who did not see eye to eye with her step-mother.

Then I asked her what time her train arrived back in York on Sunday, to which she replied, "around 9 o’clock”. I asked her if she would mind if I could meet her at the station. "That would be lovely”, she said, but she said our relationship could be no more than friendship, as she said she was

Page 29 engaged to a soldier, named Tommy Tucker, who was serving overseas, and he lived in Brighton. Finally we said good night, and I waited until she disappeared into her barrack room.

On Sunday I went to York station in the evening, and as I had half an hour to wait before the Wakefield train arrived, so I went into the station buffet for a cup of tea. Then about five minutes before the train was due to arrive, I went to the exit, where the tickets were collected, which was at the bottom of a footbridge, connecting all the platforms on the station.

I saw lots of people crossing the footbridge, and I caught sight of Mabel, when she passed through the ticket collectors gate, I approached her, and caught hold of her hand to steer her through the crowd that had gathered.

Because it was a nice evening, we decided to walk back to the barracks. I asked her if she had enjoyed her week end, her reply was yes, although she hadn’t been anywhere but had stayed in and kept her mother company.

Mabel asked me how I had passed the week-end, I replied that I had been reading a book named 'Iron Heel'. She asked me what it was about, and I said it was a political book I also told her that I had been in the canteen and had a few beers with the boys from the barracks. As we walked along Fulford Road to the barracks, we came to a public house called "The Light Horseman". I suggested to Mabel that we could go in for a drink. We went into the lounge which was very cosy, with people seated round tables.

I led Mabel to an empty table near the fire, and the waiter approached us. I ordered a pint of beer for myself. and a cider for Mabel, which the waiter duly brought.

I then told her that while she had been away over the week-end, I had received news that I would be back in the workshop on Monday, as it had been decided that we should have our Block Training in sections, and it would be about six weeks before it was our sections turn, providing there was no emergencies.

On hearing this Mabei seemed pleased, and I was pleased because I could carry on seeing her. Mabel asked me about my family background, and it appeared that I was more fortunate than she was, I still had a mother and

Page 30 father, but Mabel, as well as losing her father, told me her mother had died when she was only young, and her sister, May, had looked after the family until her father had remarried.

We had another drink, and I found talking to Mabel so easy going, as if we had known each other for years. We finished our drinks, and made our way to the barracks, and after a chat at her hut, I kissed her cheek lightly, and said "see you tomorrow".

Over the weeks that followed, Mabel and I were often in one another’s company, not only in the workshops, our tea breaks and mid-day meal but also in the evenings.

One of our favourite places where we used to go, was the Soldiers and Sailors home, in Wenlock Terrace, which was across the road from the barracks. It was run by two elderly ladies, who got used to us going, that when we walked in they used to say "two teas for two sweethearts ".

We talked more and more about our family lives before the war, and what we hoped for when the war was over. I explained to Mabel my interest in politics from the Socialist point of view, which she accepted, although she herself was not politically minded but she had a kindly disposition to other people, less fortunate than herself.

I think that was the reason I liked her company, apart from her physical attraction, I also began to realise that our relationship was not just friendship but was changing into love for one another, and we were getting into difficulties because of Mabel being engaged to Tommy, and my mind went back to when I was overseas and the pain and anguish it caused to my friend, John when he received the news of his broken engagement.

Then one night we both went to dance, where we had a very enjoyable evening, and after the dance was over we walked back and stopped under a veranda. usually when we said goodnight I used to kiss her on the cheek, this time we both kissed and embraced one another, and I told Mabel, that I loved her and - wanted to marry her. However just at that moment, torch shone on us, it was the ATS orderly officer, telling Mabel that it was time she was in her barrack room . Mabel took hold of me and kissed me, and said , "goodnight love, we'll chat about it tomorrow".

Frustrations about my feelings towards Mabel, had come into the open and I was hoping that she was beginning to love me.

Page 31 As I lay in bed that night, feeling happy, l went to sleep with the thought, 'I wonder how we are going to get over the situation of Mabel’s engagement', because my intention was to ask her to marry me, although we had only been together a few months, but I knew she was the one I wanted for my wife and companion, for the rest of my life.

The following day we were together at break time in the workshop, but we couldn’t talk about the previous evening, because Mabel’s and my friends were with us. In the evening we went across to the soldiers home, and I told Mabel about my feelings.

She said it was probably just an infatuation, because we both had such an enjoyable night, but I replied that to me it was not so, I felt and would always feel the same today as I did on the previous evening. I then noticed something, that Mabel was not wearing her engagement ring, she then took hold of my hand and said, "we are in a bit of a fix, aren’t we love, but it is Friday tomorrow. and I am going home this week-end, so both of us will have a chance to think over the situation ."

Mabel went on her week-end leave and I stayed at the barracks, I spent most of my time reading, near the fire in the canteen NAAFI. One of the documents I read was giving the details of the Beveridge Report, which suggested that British people should have, Welfare and Social Security from "cradle to grave", that is in health, sickness, invalidity, disablement, pensions, etc. To me this was the way forward in Britain, after the war is over, not back to the pre-war days, when people could not afford to be sick, or get proper health care.

Sunday evening approached, and it was time I made my way to the station, to meet Mabel. My views on our relationship had not changed, I knew that the way I felt about her was not just a flash infatuation, it was a genuine desire to marry and make her my wife, because I believed that she had the love and outlook in life that would help me during my life-time. [This proved the case, as later chapters will unfold.]

As I waited in the station cafe, I was wondering how Mabel would have tackled the problem of her engagement. The train from Wakefield duly arrived, and I met her at the ticket barrier. She was glad to see me, but she seemed to be in a very thoughtful mood, and because it was raining, we went back to the barracks by bus.

Page 32 When we got off the bus, we decided to go to the Soldiers' Home. Once inside with our cups of tea, we sat down and I noticed that Mabel was wearing her engagement ring, so I thought, 'Well, she has made up her mind to stay loyal to her fiancé. I asked her if she had given any thought to our relationship, her reply was that she was confused and that she had received a letter from Tommy, who was serving in Italy, and he wanted her to visit his family in Brighton.

I asked Mabel if she was going to go, her reply was " I don't know yet, but I really think I should, seeing that I haven't met them yet." Therefore, our situation had not been resolved, and I was disappointed. As the conversation continued, she became moody and argumentative, and we quarrelled, and as she left, she said that she was remaining loyal to Tommy, and ran into her barrack room.

I, of course, was upset and confused, and as it was getting near Christmas, 1944, everybody was thinking about Christmas leave. I saw Mabel the next day, and she brought me a cup of tea at break-time, and she said she was sorry for what had happened the previous night, I replied that it was as much my fault as hers, and we were still good friends.

We both went on our Christmas leaves', but my leave was a week before Christmas, so I was back in barracks for Christmas, and to my surprise, Mabel was there as well, having spent her leave on the same week as myself.

She told me that she had been to Brighton to visit her fiancé’s family, and that she had come back early. This seemed encouraging to me but I did not pursue it. We both exchanged our experiences while on leave, and Mabel told me that she went with Tommy's mother and sisters to a dance in Brighton, and finished up quite drunk, not knowing how.

She had been ill for about two days, as well, and the family, to Mabel, left a lot to be desired. I didn't tell her that my father noticed that I was wandering about like someone lost, while I was on leave, so he took me to a pub nearby, for a chat.

He wanted to know what was the matter with me, so I told him about our relationship, and he asked if I had got Mabel into trouble, so I replied, "No, nothing like that has taken place," and he said, "Well, Frank, you must think of the other lad, who is serving overseas". Of course, I did, but I couldn't help my feelings.

Page 33 One night, just before Christmas, I was in the NAFFI with some of the other soldiers in the barracks, when two of Mabel's ATS friends came in and joined us, and in a friendly way, they told me that I should not let the relationship with Mabel become too serious, because of her engagement.

They said that the reason they were confronting me, was that in the past few weeks, she hadn't seemed her usual self. I replied that events may make it easier for both of us, as it was our sections' turn for block training, which meant that we were being prepared for posting overseas.

Christmas was now only a few days away, and I asked Mabel if she was going home for the week-end. She replied that she wasn't, because her sister, May, was coming over to York, for Christmas to visit some relations of her husband, a Mr. and Mrs. Atkins, who lived about a mile away from the barracks, and she said that they had also invited us to spend Christmas with them.

This was to become one of the best Christmas events of my life. After an excellent dinner at the Atkins' residence, we all went to a club, called the Tang Hall Working Mens` Club. There was a piano player, and it was a free and easy night, with all the old songs that are rendered at the festive season, and they started up an old favourite of mine, so I said to Mabel, "I know this one, and it's my favourite". It was called 'Let the rest of the world go by', so she said, "Get up and sing it then, love." I was a bit hesitant, so she said "Come on then, we'll both sing it." So up we got onto the stage, I told Mabel that I knew the verse, so she said that she would join in the chorus then

I think we must have been inspired , because when I got to the first line, "With someone like you, a pal, good and true," Mabel put her arms around me and we sang the whole chorus in harmony. We got the whole audience going, and when we had finished, we brought the house down with clapping and whistling and calls for more.

May, her sister. was wiping tears from her eyes, and both of us were starry-eyed. Mabel then sang a French love song, named 'J'attendrai', which she sang so beautifully in French., and as there were some Free French servicemen in the audience, they came over to our table to kiss Mabel's hand.

She had a lovely voice, and in later years she won prizes in local talent competitions. On one occasion, Mabel and myself won the first prize, a

Page 34 coffee table, for the rendering of....yes, 'Let the rest of the world go by'. Certainly, the Christmas of 1944 will live in my memory for ever.

However, the Christmas and New Year festivities were soon over, and we were back to normal, until our sections' turn for block training came. This meant that we were transported to another barracks, and had intensive training for combat duties, for three weeks, and then we were ready to be drafted abroad when necessary.

I used to see Mabel in the Soldiers Home after we got back to barracks, and one night she said to me, as we were walking back to the barracks, "I'm breaking off my engagement". Of course I was delighted, and as we kissed and embraced, I asked her if she would marry me, she replied that of course she would, if I really wanted her to.

I wrote home to my family, to tell them that Mabel and I were going to be married. Because of the uncertainty of my being sent abroad in the near future, we had to have a Special Licence from York Minster, so the date was set for March 10th. 1945.

Mabel sent the engagement ring back to Tommy's family, and wrote an explanatory letter to both Tommy and his mother. We both made arrangements to go on leave to meet our future in-laws. I met Mabel’s stepmother, her brother Bill and Olive his wife. Her other brothers were serving in different parts of the country. May came over saying that she gave us both her blessing, she had expected it after what happened in Tang Hall Labour Club at Christmas.

I brought Mabel to Little Hulton to meet my family, and they all seemed to take to her. My father took me to one side, and said, that both mother and he thought she was a nice and sensible girl, and if I treated her right, and with respect, she would make me a good wife. My father also mentioned Tommy, and I explained that Mabel had already written to him about our more serious relationship.

She had already told him of our friendship earlier, in her previous letters to him. So all preparations were made for our wedding ceremony, being wartime meant that it was to be a small event, but it was a wonderful one, just the same.

Page 35 The happy day of March 10th. 1945 arrived, and we were married in the Garrison Church, inside Cavalry Barracks, with the army Chaplain

officiating at the ceremony, which was attended by some of our respective families. Mabel’s stepmother was unable to travel to York, her brothers, Bill, Ted, Sid and step-brother Jim, were all overseas in the forces, so only May, her sister was present.

Mabel was given away by Bill Atkin, a relative of Mabel's sister, and her bridesmaid was her best friend in the forces at York, Helen.

The church was full of friends and service personnel, both male and female, and as we left the church, they formed a guard of honour, for us to

Page 36 pass through, it was a most memorable occasion. We will never forget the happy and eventful times we had at the Cavalry Barracks, York, in 1944 / 1945.

(In 1995, during the time I was a member of my Union's Final Appeal Court, Mabel came to stay with me for the week-end, in York, and we re- visited the barracks, but I'm sorry to say they were derelict, and as we were looking through the locked gates, an army officer came up to us, he asked if we were recalling memories. We told him about us, and when we were stationed there. He left us with the comment "Happy Times").

After the wedding, we went to the photographers by taxi, and then on to Mr. and Mrs. Atkins for the reception. Later on after all the speeches and merrymaking, Mabel and I boarded a train for Scarborough, where we spent seven happy days on our honeymoon.

On our return we went to live with Mr. and Mrs. Atkins and their daughter, because we were both still in the forces. Later, in 1945, we rented a furnished flat, opposite the barracks, in Wenlock Terrace. The house was owned by Mrs. Potter, a typical old fashioned lady, who always seemed to wear her hat both inside and outside the house, all day and all night, giving us the impression that she must keep her money safely hidden there.

The rent was twelve shillings and sixpence per week (62.5p.)., it was equipped with a table, chairs and a bed. The lighting and cooking was done by gas, which we paid for by inserting pennies in the meter, in a small kitchenette connected to the main room.

Mabel soon became pregnant, and presented us with a son, whom we named Francis Edward, the only one of our six children to be born in Yorkshire, of which he is now, extremely proud.

We spent many happy hours in that flat, until we were both demobbed from the forces. Francis was born on the First of February, 1946, and was christened at the Garrison Church, Cavalry Barracks. His Godfathers were my brother William and Mabel’s step-brother, Ralph James, and his God- mother was my youngest sister, Mary. Mabel lived up to all expectations as an excellent wife and mother. The war in Europe was over, with a complete defeat for Nazi Germany, but events both nationally and internationally, began to take shape. In Britain, a General Election was called for in 1945, and ended in a

Page 37 resounding victory for the Labour Party, with a majority of over a hundred seats in the House of Commons.

The Labour Government set about the task of bringing back thousands of service men and women, and resettling them into civilian life and finding them homes and jobs. They also passed legislation to place the Beveridge Plan onto the Statute Books, and introduced a free National Health Service, consisting of free doctors, free dental treatment, and free prescriptions.

This was a vast improvement to the standard of life we had been used to in the pre-war years. An International Conference took place in Yalta, Russia, in 1945, between Britain , France, the USA and the USSR, which divided the countries of the world, which meant that in later years, reactionary forces took over countries, causing wars, revolts and social crises.(more about this in later chapters ).

In the latter part of 1945, Mabel was demobbed, and in 1946 I was demobbed, and we, that is Mabel, baby Francis and myself, moved to Little Hulton, where for a short period, we lived with my parents.

We soon moved to lodgings, with a friend of my mothers', who lived in Boothstown, near Worsley, who were a delightful couple, named Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd.. I, of course, went back to engineering at Matthew and Yates in Swinton. I resumed my membership of the AEU, as my membership had been suspended whilst I was in the Forces.

I also joined the Labour Party, and was active in both wings of the Labour Movement. This is when I began actively fighting for a better life for the Working class people of Britain, in the year 1946. The war in Japan had finished after the atom-bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing many thousands of horrendous casualties and deaths.

However, it was only in the aftermath of the war, that we heard the real truth of the atrocities that the Nazis' had committed in their Concentration Camps. They had exterminated thousands of civilians by either starvation, the Gas Chamber or shooting. Thus the war ended, and efforts were started to build the Peace.

Page 38 CHAPTER 5

OUR FAMILY.

I am placing this chapter here, because some people, who write about their memoirs, only give a brief account about the ones that made their achievements possible, that is, the family.

Number one of course, is Mabel, who gave birth to six beautiful children, four sons and two daughters, and now , after fourty eight years of marriage, I can see the successful way she brought them up in their younger and adolescent years. I write of this because, due to my commitment to the Labour Movement, and being away from home, attending meetings and Conferences, it was Mabel who taught them, and made them into the kind-hearted sons and daughters that they are today.

In their younger days they used to be in bed when I arrived home, and the only time I saw them was at week-ends, when I was not working or attending meetings. However, one night when I arrived home, she had placed a picture of me, on the mantle-piece, over the fire. I asked what it was doing there, and in a joking gesture, she said it was to let the children know who their father was.

All through the period of our children’s school days, she kept them spotlessly clean and well dressed. Although we were not at all well off, she was able to make most of their clothes, and people have often remarked to me, how well they were kept.

My mother used to tell me off for leaving Mabel to look after the family, repeating what she had said to my father, during the 1926 Strike, and in the 1930s. She would say that it was all his fault, for getting me so interested in Politics and the Unions. My father would say, nodding his head, and with a twinkle in his eye, "I told our Frank, in 1945, that he was marrying a good girl, and Mabel has proved me right. "

I certainly was a lucky man to have a wife of this calibre, and understanding. Not only was she a good wife and mother, but she was talented as well. She was capable of doing the interior decorating, cooking, making both her, and

Page 39 the children’s clothes and, for her own enjoyment, she loved both oil-painting, and embroidering her own pictures. She has managed to paint and embroider pictures, for each of the children.

She has also given one of her embroidered pictures to our Family Doctor, in appreciation of all the care she has shown us all. What a woman and a wife she turned out to be, and now, at the age of 74 years I look at her with Pride and Gratefulness, for all she has done for me and our family. "Thanks love".

The Children; Francis was our first child, he was born in York, at Acomb Nursing Home, in 1946. He was quite small when he was born, but he gradually progressed, as usual. His first sentence was, "I go get", when he was a toddler, and as he grew older, he certainly did.

After progressing from his Junior school, to Senior education, and then on to work, he served his time as a Pattern Maker, but his goals were set higher, so he continued to study, and became a Lecturer at Bolton Municipal College. He married a lovely girl, named Margaret, and they now have four lovely daughters, Lynda, Julie, and twins, Elizabeth and Jennifer.

Margaret, like Mabel, is an excellent wife and mother, and our Francis was certainly lucky to find, and marry her. Francis, like me, became active in Trade Unionism and Politics. I recall an incident that took place in 1977, at Automat Engineering, where the workers had been on strike for twelve months, and a demonstration and picket had been organised to support the workers, who were seeking Trade Union recognition.

Francis was part of that demonstration, and of course the television cameras were present, and he was filmed remonstrating with one of the 'black-legs', just like his grandfather in the 1926 Miners' Strike.

Of course, this was seen by the family on the television news, and Margaret, Mabel and my mother, said that the inheritance of agitation, had been handed down through the generations, but if they really cared to admit it, they were secretly proud of him, I know my father and I were.

Francis is a good son and father, he helps others, such as Special Needs and unemployed students at the college where he lectures. He also is the Trade Union representative for his fellow lecturers. Margaret, besides coping with her family, works as a Nursing Attendant, at the local Hospice, but has always found time to provide surprise parties for special events, such as our Twenty fifth and Fortieth Anniversaries, when all Mabel’s relatives from Yorkshire, were invited.

Page 40 The four Granddaughters are beautiful. Lynda is now a mother herself; she gave us our first Great-Grandchild, Jessica, another beauty. Julie is now nineteen years old, and a most lovable and lovely girl. The twins are eight years old, lovely and vivacious, and they are both members of the Church choir.

We were then allocated a pre-fabricated house in Little Hulton, where our second son, David, was born. These pre-fabricated houses were built to provide homes for people returning from the Forces, mainly. They were all electric, for such as water heating, cooking, lighting, etc.

The solid fuel heating system, provided heating far the whole house by air ducts in each room . There were two bedrooms, lounge, kitchen, bathroom and a large hall, and after the accommodation we had endured, since we were first married, these houses were wonderful, they were like palaces to us. To be able to open and close our own doors, took a while to become accustomed to.

We spent many a happy time there, and as previously stated, on June 16th. , our second son, David was born there, and grew up into manhood as a kind and lovable son, who was also considerate to others.

I recall that when he was about eighteen months old, he developed pneumonia, and it was a very worrying time for us, but through good nursing, he managed to conquer it. I remember, one day, the doctor visiting him, and as he examined him, said that he would make a complete recovery, in so doing, he happened to feel at the bumps on his head, and he remarked that he would grow up to be very clever.

As a matter of fact, this came quite true, since he managed to become top apprentice at GEC, Trafford Park, during his earlier working career. He left there on reaching the age of twenty one, and went into the Merchant Navy as an Engineering Officer. After a few years, he left the Merchant Navy, got employment at a local firm, and met a girl named Marylin.

They soon married, and they went to Zambia, where David became an electrical engineer in a copper mine. After working there for almost eighteen months, we had word that our grand-daughter, Dianne, had been born. It seemed strange that we could not see the baby, we had photographs, but they're not the same.

However, in another three years, they came back home, and shortly after, our grandson, Daniel, was born. After being in Britain for about two years, they moved back again to Zambia, where David resumed his work as an electrical engineer. Eventually, they returned to Britain and started up home in Tyldesley, but unfortunately, they were unhappy together, so they were

Page 41 divorced. Marilyn went to Yorkshire, to train as a staff nurse, and David took care of the children.

Although David and Lyn, were unable to get along together, they still remained friends for the sake of the children. They don't seem to have suffered, they are sweet and lovable, as all their cousins are. We wish that things could have turned out better for them, but that is a matter for themselves to work out, "Que Sera, Sera."

On the tenth of January 1949, Alan, our third son was born, in our pre-fab house. He was a bonny, fair and bouncing baby, who also grew up to be clever and talented. After trial and error, he settled down and gained 'O' levels in various subjects.

He met and married Edna, a lovely and capable girl, who has succeeded in playing a major part in the path he has taken in his career to-day. Alan now owns his Company, selling computer programmes, which he has devised, and he goes up and down the country, giving seminars, etc. , on their usage.

Edna gave birth to our first grand-daughter, Deborah, who is now twenty two, and also our first grandson, Darren. Deborah has given us our second great- grandchild, named, Rebecca.

Edna has been a good wife and mother to her family, which is appreciated most profoundly by Mabel and myself. Alan was active in politics, when he was a young man, he took part in Trade Union activities and he was one of the persons, along with his brother Francis and myself, who helped to form the Little Hulton Tenants and Owner Occupiers Association in 1973.

We organised a march to Worsley Town Hall, in protest against the Tory Governments' Housing Finance Act. Over two thousand people took part, in a snow blizzard, as they continued to march on.It is ironical to think that , at that particular time, only ten shillings (50p), increase was being added to the rent, and we had so many people on the march, protesting and withholding their rent increase.

Alan also became secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, of his local branch, and also a delegate to Salford Trade union Council.

On the seventh of February, 1950, in the pre-fab, Susan Elizabeth, our first daughter, and a perfectly lovely baby was born, our happiness was complete, with a little girl being granted to us at last.

Page 42 However, during her infancy, she developed convulsions, and we very nearly lost her. Mabel succeeded in reviving her, by immersing her in a warm bath, and applying cold compresses to her head until her limbs contracted.

Then she was lifted out, and rubbed in a warm blanket. Unfortunately, she stiffened up again, so the whole routine had to be repeated.

By the time she had relaxed for the second time, the doctor had arrived and took over the job of rubbing her in a blanket. She seemed to settle then, so the doctor went back to the surgery, and brought penicillin, which he gave to her. She was semi-conscious for about three days, during which time she had to just be given the medicine and carefully watched, but at last, on the fourth day, she gave a little gurgle, opened her eyes, and we knew we had our little girl again.

By the time she reached the age of eighteen months though, we noticed that when she walked, she would occasionally stop for a long while. We thought that this was odd, so after consulting the doctor, we found that she had a hernia, and had to go into Hospital right away.

This was a most upsetting time because the rule of the Hospital, was, that small children were not allowed to see their parents during their stay there, because they would probably become upset, so we were only allowed to see our baby through a window. It was heartbreaking for us to see her, lying there so pitifully, and not to be able to pick her up and love her.

She finally overcame the setback and was soon playing as large as life. Despite her upsetting beginnings, Susan grew up to be a lovely and lovable daughter, who married Graham, a good lad and a caring family man.

They gave us three bonny grandsons, Grahame, Andrew and Stephen, all lovable boys, who, because of the recession, and because of their desire to further their education, have moved to sixth form college. They enjoy sports and excel at golf, taking part in a friendly tournament for a Trophy, presented by their granddad each year. As the boys grew older, Susan returned to nursing, she works as a nurse at St. Anne’s Hospice, helping to alleviate the pain and suffering of those who are terminally ill. They are very good parents, a loving daughter and son-in-law.

In 1952 we moved to a traditional semi-detached home, from the pre-fab to Walkdene Drive, Little Hulton, where we lived until 1973. On the 27th

Page 43 of December, 1956, our youngest son, Brian, was born. He was so lovely and lovable, he was idolised by his brothers and sister.

I recall one incident, when he was around eight, his brothers had taken him with them, as they always wanted to do, into some disused property to play. Unfortunately a window frame fell onto his head, his brother David, carried him home, with blood pouring from the wound.

An ambulance was called to take him to hospital, where they removed some glass. He came proudly home with his head all bandaged, and enjoyed the title of "The Little Soldier". Later on, however, when the bandage was removed, he still complained about pains in his head, and the wound still hadn't healed properly. After an X-Ray it was found that a piece of glass was still in his head. The wound had to be re-opened, and the glass, (a sliver of glass, about an inch long,) was finally removed.

Brian grew up to be a caring and good son, becoming an apprentice electronics engineer, at British Aerospace, where he still works. He married Julie, a hairdresser, who is an excellent wife and mother and they gave us two more grandchildren, Carl and Clair, both such lovely and thoughtful children. Both Brian and Julie work, and they have the personality of a dedicated family. They are both concerned about the welfare of their fellow men and women.

Julie gave some of her spare time to helping to paint the local High school which Carl attends. They are a much loved and appreciated , son and daughter-in-law.

On the 14th. of February, 1963, Cathryn Mary, the baby of the family was born. She was a lovely little girl and adored by all the family.

She and all the rest of the family took part in the so-called Swinging Sixties. As the rest of the family had grown up, Cathryn used to accompany Mabel and myself to the Pembroke Halls dressed up for an "Olde-Tyme Music Hall" programme, which was held at the Pembroke Hall, and they all received a prize.

Cathryn grew up to be a lovely young woman, and in 1984, she married Barry, who turned out to be a fine husband. Barry came over here before 1970 from the West Indies.

The wedding ceremony was performed at St. Paul’s Church, Walkden, and the reception was held at the Pembroke Hall, with over one hundred guests. As Cathryn was the last one to be married, we had decided that this wedding was to be a treat for everyone, and it certainly was, with everything being perfect, and both families getting to know each other.

Page 44 Mabel made the wedding dress and five bridesmaids' dresses. Both Barry and Cathryn are excellent parents to our two lovely grand-daughters, Victoria and Suzanne Danielle, and they live in a beautiful house in Astley. Barry is a good provider, he works at a tile manufacturers' during the day, and has also, his own Disco business.

This, then, in 1993, is the family. They are comprised of six children, all married, with their husbands and wives, fifteen grandchildren, and two great- grandchildren, and they all visit regularly and look after us.

I recall many events that have taken place, when our children have given us most memorable joy and pleasure. Two of these I must especially comment on. One was the occasion of my 70th. birthday, and I was at the North West Labour Party Conference at Blackpool with Mabel.

The week before I went I was taking down my old greenhouse and preparing the ground for a rockery. Mabel came and looked at what I was doing, and said, "Why don't you leave that until you come back from Blackpool?". I decided that is what I would do, so the next day, we went off to Blackpool, to the conference.

It was a long week-end conference, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and as the conference finished at Sunday lunch-time, I made arrangements to meet Mabel outside the door of the Conference Hall.

When I arrived there, she was not to be seen, and after spending half an hour searching, and missing the train, I found her in one of the cafes in the Winter Gardens, with her friends. Of course, I wasn't very pleased, but Mabel just shrugged my comments off. We had to wait another hour for our train, but I learned later on, when we got home that she had delayed us on purpose.

We finally arrived home, and it was getting quite dark, but Mabel said, " Come and have a look at your garden, love, you've been saying you missed it". When I looked through the window, I was astonished to see a new glass greenhouse in place of the old one. I learned that while we were away, my sons had brought the greenhouse, and working all week-end, along with Daniel, our grandson, they had erected it.

It was perfect. This was my 70th. birthday present, and Mabel had known about it all the time, and that was why she had delayed our returning home, so that the greenhouse would be completed before I arrived home.

Page 45 The second occasion was on Mabel’s 70th. birthday, when we were given tickets, from the children, to go and see Torvil and Dean, and the Russian ice-skaters , in Manchester, That was a most memorable and magnificent show, which we will always remember.

On another occasion, they took us to a local pub in Little Hulton, and during the happy evening, we were handed a booking for a few days holiday in Blackpool, with everything paid for, including money to spend.

This is the quality, love and gratitude of our children, and their wives and husbands. This is true family life, and Mabel at 72yrs. and myself at 74yrs. look back with pride and joy, at a family of children, who, to us, are a shining example of love and affection and if it was copied there would not be all the violence and greed, that is taking place in our country to-day.

Before ending this chapter, I must mention two of the dogs that were part of our family for 28yrs, they were called Tony, and Bob. Tony, our first dog, was a mongrel, with part Alsatian in his blood, and when all the children were small, he used to follow them all over the place. When they were playing and had disappeared from our view, all we had to do was to shout and he would answer by barking, we then knew where they were.

I remember one incident, when our daughter Susan, then aged three, was missing from the garden, and we went to look for her. We found that the gate had been left open, and she had wandered away from the house. I could hear our Tony, barking from the direction of the main roadway, and as I got there Susan was on the ground, crying, with Tony standing over her.

A neighbour, who was at the scene, told me what had happened, he said that Susan was trying to cross the road, and the dog had walked in front of her, when she approached the kerb, and had knocked her down. Of course, he got a big hug from all of us.

My father, also had a great affection for Tony, and when he retired, he used to take him for walks. He had received a free travel pass, from the public transport company, when he retired, and many times he would return by bus, after his walks with the dog, so the drivers and conductors knew Tony quite well.

The bus terminus was near dad’s house, but before it reached there, it had to turn a corner, and Tony used to wait there, and as it was an open-backed , double-decker bus, Tony, as it slowed down to turn the corner, would jump

Page 46 aboard, scamper upstairs, and ride down to the terminus, and then get off. Most of the staff who operated the busses, knew my father and the dogs.

Their comment was , "It's old Bill's dog, and it's got a free pass like him." As time went by, and Tony grew older, he went blind and also at the age of 14 years, his legs began to collapse, so on the advice of the Veterinary, we had to have him put to sleep. When I arrived home with his collar, from the Vets', all the family cried, and I said I didn’t want to go through that experience again.

I vowed that we should never have another dog again. However, about a year elapsed, and I was again at the Labour Party Conference at Blackpool, and as I used to phone home every day, my wife told me that we had a little puppy dog at home, which had followed our Alan. I said to Mabel over the phone," "We're not keeping him". She explained that she had reported the little dog to the police, in case it was lost, and they said they would let us know, if anyone claimed him.

After the Conference, I arrived home, to be greeted at the door by the little puppy, and the children. We waited for someone to claim him, but no-one did, so this then was the inclusion of another dog into the family. It was a cross between a greyhound and a whippet, and we christened it Bob, and he, like Tony, followed the children everywhere. As Francis, David and Alan were now in their teens, they used to teach him to chase rabbits and hares.

Looking back, I remember some of the incidents during Bob’s life time. One day, they took him hunting hares, and as he was off-white in colour, the lads brought Bob back, a brownish colour and smelling terrible. The lads told us that they had seen a hare up in the fields, near the sewage farm, and as the hare reached the culvert, where a brown evil-smelling liquid was emerging, it turned quickly.

As Bob was about to pounce for the kill, he could not stop, and in he went. Mabel wasn't so very pleased when they all arrived back home, and a dolly tub was placed in the back garden, filled with water and detergent, Bob was placed in the tub, and washed until he became his usual colour again. Then Mabel promptly sprayed him with a little perfume, and finally let him into the house again.

In another incident, the lads took him to a Whippet Race in Tyldesley, and entered Bob in the novice race, but as he had never raced before, Bob was disqualified, because when they let him go along with the other dogs, he

Page 47 would fight them. However after we had trained him to race, he went back and won.

The lads were extra pleased because they had a joint bet on him, and he won at 10 to 1. There was one really upsetting incident, though, when one day, Bob returned home with all the hairs on his back replaced with blisters, as if someone had thrown boiling water all over him. He was in a terrible state, we set about cleaning him the best we could, and took him to the Vets 'to have him attended to.

They gave him some ointment, and Mabel made him a coat to cover his bandages, because he kept trying to get them off to lick his wounds. Eventually, he recovered and became his usual self.

He was a good dog, however, when he reached the age of 14yrs., he developed cancer, according to the Vet, so we had to have him put down, and this time Brian took him, and when he returned, he said that he would never take another dog again, as his dad had said before him. Of course there was plenty of sorrow and weeping, especially from Cathryn, who as a baby, used to use Bobs' back to lay her head on, and occasionally went to sleep holding him.

These then are some of the incidents I remember, at the age of 74 yrs. concerning our family and our two dogs.

Page 48 CHAPTER 6.

AFTER THE WAR, AND THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT.

The war was finally over, with terrible loss of life, both military, and civilian. For example, in the U.S.S.R, twenty million people were killed, plus several million British, American, French and other allies, and of course, the Germans and their allies suffered millions of casualties.

What a senseless exercise war is, towns and cities destroyed and major upheaval for everyone. This was the aftermath that faced the in-coming Labour Government in Britain in 1945.

In the first three years of government, they managed to turn our industrial output, from war to peaceful purposes. They also brought in legislation to Nationalise our basic industries and services, such as coal, steel, gas, electricity, etc. which had been run down under Private Ownership, before the war. This was in addition to bringing in a free National Health Service, as mentioned in previous chapters. Within three years, however, International Capitalism began making inroads into our economic life as they were doing all over the world.

During 1946, a new branch of the A.E.U. was formed, named Walkden Branch, and because I was living and working in the area, I was transferred from Chowbent Branch, to Walkden Branch in 1947. I straight away got involved in Branch activity, and became Minute Secretary.

It was a well run and well attended branch, with plenty of union and political activity, and as I was an individual member of the Labour Party, I was elected Delegate, along with four other members to the Farnworth Constituency Labour Party, where I also became very active. In 1949, I became Press Officer. Our member of Parliament, was George Tomlinson, who was the Minister of Education.

Although the Labour Government, at that time, was the best Government, the workers had ever had, because of the benefits which they had placed on the Statute Books, since being elected. It was obvious that the world

Page 49 capitalists and bankers, were soon placing monetary restrictions on the Government.

They split the world into two camps, after Churchill’s Fulton speech in America, Suddenly our ally, the U.S.S.R became our enemy,, because it was a country, along with other East European countries, which were trying to attain Socialist ideals.

The Western Countries, which were Capitalist, such as the U.S.A., Britain, West Germany, France, put trade embargoes on the Socialist countries, and of course, the inevitable happened.

A build up of armaments started including nuclear weapons, which resulted in terrible events, all over the world, which could have triggered off a Third World War, eventually leading to an all out nuclear war, which would destroy the planet earth entirely.

I, myself, a confirmed Socialist, and a believer in peaceful co-existence with all peoples, began to have doubts about the leaders of the Trade Unions and the Labour Party, who were gradually allowing the Capitalists to erode the gains we had achieved , when we elected a Labour Government.

The breaking point with the Labour Party came, when they agreed to the re- armament of Western Germany. I remember the incident when I resigned from the Labour Party.

They had just been re-elected to government, and it was at a meeting of the constituency Labour Party at Farnworth. George Tomlinson, our Labour M.P. came to the meeting, and I along with other members present, questioned him about the decision to support the re-armament of Germany.

I pointed out the way that world capitalism was manipulating our Labour Government, in the same way as it had rearmed and supported Nazi Germany, before the Second World War, also the atrocities they committed on the people of Europe, and now they wanted us to turn our backs on the Russian people, who had played a major part in the defeat of the Nazis.

All this, I could not agree with, so reluctantly, I resigned from the Labour Party. Later I joined and helped to form, the local C.N.D.(Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.)

It was during this period that I met Dick Nettleton, who was a member, at that time of the Communist Party, and along with others were active in the

Page 50 C.N.D. movement. Dick Nettleton was a man I was proud to have known, who later became the National Secretary of the C.N.D.

During 1949, and the early 50s, I was working at De Haviland, later to become British Aerospace at Lostock, and it was here that I got my first taste of victimisation.

I remember the incident well, It occurred during a conversation between the supervisor, and an operator on the lathe next to mine. The components he was machining, were the components which I had set the piece-work rate for, some months earlier, along with the Rate Fixer, who came to watch you set up the job, time you and then add a little time on , so that a bonus could be made.

When the Rate Fixer had left, I remembered a little knack, that Said, the Egyptian Centre Lathe Turner, had shown me, many years ago when I was in the Base Workshop near Cairo. It meant that I could do three components instead of one, in the time I had been allocated.

This, of course made it easier for me to attain the 100% bonus, which was agreed by the Union, on a day-to-day basis; what had happened was, that the operator, on the next lathe, had made his 100% bonus for the day, long before the shift finished, and the superintendent asked him why he was leaning on his locker.

He replied that he had made his bonus for the day, so the superintendent went to the office, returned with the Rate Fixer, and asked me to go over to the machine, where the dispute had occurred. I, as line setter, had set the operator up, to machine the components, and I had told him to take his time, as he could make his 100% easy, and the time he had over, he could use on the next job, which was difficult to make 50% bonus on.

Of course, my being responsible in the first place, in timing the job, I was asked if I would agree to a re-time, I refused, and the Union Shop Steward, was called over, and he fully agreed with me, saying that the time had been mutually agreed, and it was tit-for-tat, in that there were plenty of jobs that could not be made to pay.

The Convenor,(Head Shop Steward), was brought onto the scene, and after arguing, he agreed with the managements' request. I was annoyed, and I told him that he was not backing Union Policy, which was agreed locally with the management. His reply was that" I was an agitator and a Communist, and if I wasn't careful, I would be up the road,(sacked)." The

Page 51 reason for his attitude was that I had been active, along with others, in trying to get the factory to walk out and listen to the Shop Stewards' delegation, from other De Haviland factories, who were on strike because they were having a cut in bonus earnings, forced on them.

From then on, I was constantly being watched by the management. This made life for me, and other extremists very uncomfortable, so after being placed on three shift working, I left, and secured a job with the National Coal Board (N.C.B.) as an underground fitter.

Of course I had to join the National Union of Mineworkers (N.U.M.), and because I was a member of the A.E.U. I was allowed dual membership. This was in the 1950s. and I had now joined the Communist Party, firmly believing that, at that time, this was the party that was genuinely trying to bring about Socialism in Britain, which was pronounced in their Manifesto, "The British Road to Socialism."

I soon became active in the Party, and in the course of my employment with the N.C.B., at Mosley Common Colliery, I met other kindred spirits who were employed there, and we formed the Mosley Common Pit branch of the Communist Party, and I was elected Secretary. Therefore, a major part of my time was taken up with Party meetings, C.N.D. and A.E.U. meetings.

In 1953, I was elected by Walkden A.E.U. branch, as delegate to Bolton A.E.U. District Committee, which was the custodian of wages and conditions, for some fifteen thousand engineering workers. I served on that committee, until I retired in 1984, the last ten years as District President, a total of thirty one years.

It was during this period, that Mabel decided to take an active part in politics, and she was sent as a delegate to London, on International Women’s Day. She was away for three days, and I took care of the family, making me realise how difficult it must have been for her to take care of the children, whilst I was at all my meetings.

When Mabel got back, we discussed the attitude of the Conference, and the general situation, and although she remained dedicated to Socialist ideals, she came to the conclusion that one in the family was enough to give their time to politics, etc., so she had decided that she was the one to continue to take sole charge of the children's upbringing, leaving me to continue pursuing my political beliefs.

This she did, as previous chapters have indicated.

Page 52 It was during my employment at Mosley Common, that I met Michael Weaver, who was the Secretary of number four pit branch of the N.U.M. Mick, as he was known to his fellow miners, was a powerfully built man, and a brilliant leader and negotiator, he was a member of the Communist Party, and he played a major part in winning thousands of pounds for miners, who had been injured, or contracted diseases, through working in the pits.

He was respected by all who knew him, irrespective of his political beliefs. He was also a candidate for Parliament in Wigan’s constituency, and many people whom I contacted, while canvassing for him, commented that if only Mick stood as a Labour Candidate, he would win easily, and would become a useful member of the Labour Government

He was a brilliant debater and orator and he taught me howto speak in public.

I remember well, my first baptism of speaking in the open-air. It was on the square at Tyldesley, and I chaired the meeting, and introduced Mick to the small crowd that had gathered, but when he got up to speak, he had a powerful voice, and he had no need of the microphone.

The crowd began to get bigger, and by the time he had finished and dealt with the hecklers, the crowd had swelled to over a hundred people, and he got a rousing reception. This gave me confidence, and when I closed the meeting, I made a nice little contribution myself.

At Mosely Common, I was a member of the Number One and Number Two Branch N.U.M. The reason for there being two branches, was of a political nature, in that the officials of Number One and Two Pits, accused the officials of Number Four Pit, of being politically motivated towards the left of the Labour Party, and in those days, of the 1950s, the quotes, "Fellow Traveller'", and "Militant", came to the forefront, and the Officials of my Branch, Numbers One and Two Pits, had a local rule that no member of the Communist Party could hold office in that branch, which debarred me from representing the Tradesmen, who had elected me to be their representative.

I therefore protested right up to the General Secretary of the N.U.M., who was at that time, Arthur Horner. This, and another point, which was that we were not receiving the proper rate for Craftsmen, did not go down so well with either the management, or the Unions, as far as I was concerned, because both issues were finally resolved , satisfactorily in our favour.

Page 53 In spite of all this, I found that working with the miners was the most rewarding and supportive, irrespective of politics, and I remember one miner, who was the representative of the coal-face workers, who confided in me that I had the right ideas, but I was in the wrong party.

His name was Ted Parsons, and he too, was well thought of by the miners Later on, after two years in employment, I was sent to Sheffield, to a mining engineering workshop, for further training. There I took an Advanced Test, in Mine Engineering Equipment, which I passed, and while I was there, I was informed that when I got back to Mosley Common, this would mean higher wages.

When, after two weeks in Sheffield, I returned, I asked some of the fitters, who had also passed the test, if they had received any extra pay. The answer was "No", so I headed a deputation to the management, but when we approached them, they said that we were getting the correct pay, that was being paid in the Lancashire Coalfields.

This was not satisfactory for us, so we took it all the way through the Grievance Procedure, and eventually won our case. Again this did not go down well with the management, and some of our Union Officials in Nos. I & 2 Pits' Branch, excepting Teddy Parsons, and coal-face workers who congratulated us for sticking out for our rights, and using the correct procedure.

It was just after this dispute between the craftsmen and the management, that a terrible accident took place down No. 2. Pit; a man, riding a gang of cars, fully loaded with miners, broke away, and three miners were killed and quite a number suffered terrible injuries.

One of the miners who was killed, was called Billy Wood, a Union delegate for the Haulage workers down the mine. Although we didn't see eye to eye politically, I was extremely saddened by the horrific event.

A short time after the accident, events began to happen between the Management, the Union, and myself. They came to a head, when I was accused of leaving a machine in disrepair, before the Christmas holidays.

The facts were, that a fellow fitter and myself, were attending the coal- cutter, near the end of the shift, when the working would be closed down for the holiday. All the workings underground were closing down„ and the Deputies were leaving early, which meant that the two fitters, myself included, would be left underground without a Deputy, who was required,

Page 54 by law, to accompany any worker, who was carrying out any work underground; but because they had all gone to the surface, we both decided to follow.

When we reached the surface, we reported the situation to the Chief Engineer, in the Mechanics Shop, who said that he would deal with the situation, and make the necessary arrangements for a Deputy to accompany fitters underground, during the holidays.

When we returned after the holiday, the Foreman Fitter approached me, and asked me why we had left the cutter in disrepair. I explained what had happened, and he said that he would see the other fitter, when he came on to work on the afternoon shift.

His name was Frank, and when he arrived at work, he verified what had happened, and the remainder of the week went by, and as nothing further was said, I assumed that that, was the end of it.

The following Monday and Tuesday, I had to have time off work, due to sickness, and I acquired a Doctors' note, which I duly presented, when I started work on Wednesday, but I was told that I would have to see the Under manager, when I arrived at the pit bottom. He told me that production was lost, due to leaving the coal-cutter in disrepair before the Christmas holiday, and I would have to go before the Manager, to explain the situation.

In the meantime I was given seven days' notice to terminate my employment. I was shocked at this decision, and immediately informed our Union Secretary of the situation. He asked me if the other fitter had been given notice, and I said that as far as I knew, I was the only one who had been treated in this way. The secretary told me to leave it with him, to go through the correct procedure, which meant a meeting with the pit Manager.

When we met the pit Manager, he said it was a serious offence, as coal production had been lost. I then put my side of the story, concerning being left down the pit without Deputies, and reporting everything to the Chief Engineer. I asked why only I had been singled out for the sack; his reply was that because of my Trade Union activity, and speeches at Council Meetings, which had often appeared in the press, he was having no Communist working at his pit.

I turned to the Union Secretary, and said that this was a case of victimisation, and I pointed out to the Manager, that I would be taking his

Page 55 decision, further on in procedure, since the days of the Manager being the sole Judge and Jury were over, as the pits were now Nationalised, and he could not get away with his kind of attitude.

At this, the Manager lost his temper, and I thought that he was going to attack me. He called for the Security, to escort me off the premises. I then reported to Mick, the outcome of the meeting, who was annoyed and so he called a joint meeting of both Branches of the Union, and our pit Union decided that a joint approach should be taken.

Meanwhile I was out of work, and I could not draw Unemployment Benefit, because I would have to make myself available for work, and this could mean, that if I did, I would be accepting the decision of the Management.

Now this is where Solidarity came about.

I was out of work for two weeks, and collections were made at the Colliery, and my wages were paid from it. During the time that I was off work, the joint Union Branches decided, that the arrangements for a meeting of the Grievance Committee, were taking too long, so they decided to call a Strike, and to a man they all refused to go down the mine, on the Wednesday of the second week of the dispute.

The news of the situation spread around the locality, and one day, Father Loran, the local Catholic Priest, came to our house, offering my wife money shillings to assist us, because he said that he had heard from members of his congregation about our troubles, and that he did not agree with the managements' attitude, which he thought, was victimisation, irrespective of what political views one holds, and he hoped that some day I would return to the Church.

Furthermore, he said I must be in the right, as all the miners were backing me. Father Loran was indeed a kind and well- respected man by all who knew him, whether they were Catholics or otherwise. I will never forget his kind gestures as long as I live.

On the Friday of the second week, I was sent for, and I had to report to the Union Cabin, in the Pit Yard.

On arriving, I was told that the two Union Pit Secretaries had been called into the office to meet the Area Manager of the N.C.B., and a re-instatement was agreed, and all my two weeks wages would be refunded. This was a great victory, not just for me, but for all the miners who had supported me.

Page 56 I will never forget the solidarity they showed me in the 1954s., not only did they win my reinstatement, and the NCB’s admitted victimisation, but they received their basic wages for the three days they were on strike, and after a short period, the Manager of Nos. I & 2 at Mosley Common, was moved to another pit in the Lancashire Coalfields.

Naturally both myself, and the family, were relieved at the outcome, and I expressed my gratitude to my fellow miners, who had organised collections to sustain my family. I must also mention my gratitude to Mick Weaver, who worked so hard, in getting together, and obtaining the unity of the miners of both Union Branches. Also Teddy Parsons, the coal-face workers representative, from number one and two pits, who, although opposed to my political views, was instrumental in getting the vote to take strike action.

His quote was "I am not concerned that he is a Communist, my concern is, to stop this kind of victimisation, because if we don't, it could be one of us in the future".

Could I also say "Thank you" to Father Loran, and say that although I did not return to the Church, I will never forget His Goodness. Incidentally, he invited Mick Weaver and myself, to debate Marxism with the Catholic Young Men’s Society, which we accepted and enjoyed.

Unfortunately, as I write this, Mick Weaver, Teddy Parsons, and Father Loran are no longer alive, but I will always be proud to have known them.

Finally, last, but not least, I thank all the miners at Mosley Common, who came out on strike in support of me. But for their action, and the Unions' help, I would not have won.

I stayed at Mosley Common for two more years, then when I started with dizzy spells, I returned to General Engineering in 1955 with the Tories back in Government.

Page 57 CHAPTER 7

INTO THE SIXTIES

After leaving the mines, I found employment at a small, family-owned firm, named Campbell’s Engineering, who employed about 15 people. The Company specialised in manufacturing mixing machinery. By this time I was very active in the Trade Union movement, both at Branch and District level.

I became a Delegate to the Farnworth and Worsley Trades Council, and took part in the protest at the closure of the Bolton to Manchester Railway, during the Beeching era. This line passed through Little Hulton and Walkden, where stations were kept, in fact, Walkden Low Level, as it was called, boasted one of the best kept stations in the North West, and won prizes for it's beautiful floral displays.

At the time of closure, thousands of people from the city of Salford came to live in Little Hulton, where hundreds of new council houses were being built to house them, after the slum clearance scheme was put into operation in Salford. Of course the credit for such a scheme must go to the Worsley Urban District Council, and backed up by the Labour Government, when they were in office for providing decent homes for the people of Salford.

The closing of the railway took place during the period of the movement of hundreds of families, whose business and work was in the areas of Salford and Manchester, which the rail-link passed through, and to the campaigners, who wanted to save the line, thought closure was a foolish venture. It meant that more traffic would be diverted to the roads, causing damage to our environment, which of course, has become a reality in the 1980 - 90s., with traffic jams, accidents and pollution of the atmosphere from the traffic exhaust fumes.

I, accompanied by Dick Nettleton, from the Trades Council, went to the Department of Transport, in London, and put these points to them, along with the idea of having conductors on trains, and having stops between stations, so that people living in the vicinity of the line, could board the

Page 58 train, to travel to and from, their place of employment, either in the Bolton or Manchester areas.

Of course as History has shown, this fell on deaf ears at the Ministry, and the line was closed, along with many others all over the country, by Dr. Beeching, at the behest of the Conservative Government.

It was during this time that I became Shop Steward, representing members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union (A.E.U.), while working at Campbells' Ltd. and once again I was victimised, and sacked on the pretence that I had scrapped some components, which proved to be false, and because of the action by the employers, all the workers came out on strike to support my re-instatement.

I then reported to the A.E.U. Full-Time District Secretary, whose reply was "Get back to work". The A.E.U. members refused to do so, and demanded that he came to see the management to sort the whole matter out.

This he agreed to do, but when he, and another full-time officer, arrived they went in to see the management without me, or any other Union member, who worked at the Factory, being present. When I was finally called in the office, I was confronted by our Union Officials, saying that they had heard the Managements' side of the affair, and it seemed to them, that the manager had a case for dismissing me, for 'scrapping components'.

I was amazed at this statement, coming from our Union Representatives, and said I wanted to put my case, which was that I felt I was being victimised, and I asked where were the components which were supposed to be scrapped. The reply from the management was that they were not scrapped, but had been sent to the customer, who had complained that they were not up to the usual standard.

I asked for proof of this, but there was none forthcoming. The truth of the situation is, that I had established, along with the workforce, a Trade-Union organised factory, and the management were determined not to allow this. The comment from the Union Officials was, "It's obvious that you and the management are in disagreement, and it would be better if I relinquished my Shop Stewards position, and let some other A.E.U. member takeover."

My reply was, that they should come into the workshop, and address the members with these proposals, and I would accept their Democratic Vote. This they did, and when the vote was taken, it was unanimous that I should

Page 59 remain as Shop Steward. We went back into the office, and failure to agree was recorded, and a date for another meeting agreed.

At the following District Committee Meeting, the District secretary reported on the situation at Campbell’s Ltd. He reported that, in his opinion, I was too belligerent with the management, and recommended that my Shop- Stewards credentials, should be withdrawn. I reminded District Committee that I had the unanimous support of the members at the factory, and my record was, that during the period of my being a Shop-steward, I had received the recognition of the Union, and also had negotiated one of the best wages and conditions for the workforce in the Bolton district.

The real truth of the situation was, that I was politically on the left of the Labour Party, and this was not acceptable to the District Secretary, and members of the District Committee. Therefore, my credentials were withdrawn, by a majority decision.

I appealed against this decision, to our Executive Council, who supported the decision, despite my appeal. I was then left with no alternative, so under the rules of the A.E.U., I appealed to the Unions' Final Appeal Court, which consists of eleven rank and file members, elected by the membership, and in 1957, the Court completely exonerated me by a unanimous decision, stating that my Shop-stewards credentials were wrongly taken from me.

Later, in 1967, I was elected as a member of the A.E.U. Final Appeal Court for the North West, despite vendettas against me for my political views. Incidentally, the position at Campbell’s deteriorated, and the management, after the decision of Bolton District Committee, informed the workforce that they would no longer recognise the Union.

This led to Union members either being sacked, or leaving„ and seeking employment elsewhere, as they were bitterly disappointed at the decision of Bolton District Committee, withdrawing my Shop-stewards credentials.

The 1960s. arrived, and my three eldest sons, Francis, David and Alan, were in their adolescence, with the usual problems of that age, but with Mabel’s constant supervision, we got over any problems. Susan and Brian were still at school, and baby Cathryn was the pride and joy of all the family.

Although my activities in the Labour Movement took me away from home often, I was secure in the knowledge that I had an excellent family, who supported me in my endeavours and achievements, and comforted me when I had problems. With this in mind, my theory was that there must be

Page 60 millions of families like ours, and it spurred me on to agitate more for the betterment of all working class people.

In 1964, the Labour Government was re-elected, I re-joined the Labour Party, and because of my strong Socialist views, I was dubbed "A Fellow Traveller'. In those days, that was the name given to those who held to the Principles of Clause 4 of the Party’s Constitution, which reads ;

To secure for the workers, by hand or by brain, the full fruits of their industry, and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible, upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of administration and control of each industry, or service."

In the early 60s. I had been working at Richard Houghs Ltd in Bolton, for some five years, and this place was my last place of employment until I retired in 1984.

It was a small family firm which had been in existence for over 100years The number of people employed there was about 50, and it was a non-union factory, manufacturing and repairing Calendar Roils, for the bleaching and dyeing industries, and paper manufacturing industries.

I had been working there since 1957, and I had to be careful of my Union activities, because of victimisation at my previous employment. However, in 1962, 1 had to go into Hospital with a bladder complaint, and for twelve months, I was in and out of Hospital at three-monthly periods.

Later my complaint turned out to be termed an Industrial Disease, but more about this in later chapters.

In 1962, I was elected Branch Secretary of Walkden A.E.U. Branch, and from then on, I was involved in organising the workforce into the A.E.U., having achieved this, and the management recognised the Union, and all negotiations on wages and conditions were done between management and shop-stewards committee, l was elected senior shop-steward, a position I held for 18 years.

We managed to have one of the best wages and conditions in our area, 2nd. highest wages, Non-contributory Pension Scheme, paid sick-leave, free footwear and cheap overalls. The management were happy with these arrangements, and there was good cooperation between us.

Page 61 The firm began to expand, by exporting their products overseas, more men and women were employed, in fact it was a big change for me to be working in such an environment, with co-operation between workers and management, and no threat of victimisation.

The 1960s. was an eventful decade, Hugh Scanlon was elected as President of the A.E.U., bringing about some changes in the political policy of our Union, both at local and national level.

I was elected Delegate to the North West Region of the Labour Party, who, at their Annual Conference in Blackpool, elected me on the Conference Arrangements Committee, on which I served for over 20 years, the last ten years as Chairman.

During the 1960s., although no attempts of victimisation were made from the employer, the Press took up a vendetta against me, by publishing the report that I had rigged the ballot in the Election of National President of the A.E.U., between Bill Carron, ( later Lord Carron, ), and Reg Birch, the result of which was Carron 9 votes, Birch 59 votes.

At the time, because Walkden Branch had supported Reg Birch, who was a member of the Communist Party, the Press reported, after information from a member of Walkden Branch, that Ballot-rigging had taken place.

A full enquiry, from Branch, to Executive Council level took place, and the findings were, that the allegations were unfounded, and at that time Executive Council, led by Bill Carron were in no-way left-wing orientated.

The member who had made the accusation to the Press, was expelled from the Union with full approval of Executive Council. This again is where my family supported me, despite the reporters continually harassing me in my home.

Besides the support of my family, I must give thanks and appreciation to the officers and members of Walkden A.E.U. Branch, for the support they gave me. This again, was an attempt, by reactionary forces, to get rid of an agitator for the advancement of working people. However, more attempts were made and will be recorded in later chapters.

In 1967, I was elected to the A.E.U. Final Appeal Court.

The first Court I was a member of, met in Brighton, at the Norfolk Hotel. The Chairman was Jim Callan, from Scotland, who was also the conductor

Page 62 of the Young Communist Choir, which won many prizes, both Nationally and Internationally.

It was during my stay at Brighton, that I went to a Concert performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, who performed the 7th. Symphony by Shostakovich, which was dedicated to ordinary Soviet heroes of the Second World War. Also in the programme, was Beethoven’s 5th. Piano Concerto, (Emperor). During the interval, Jim introduced me to Alan Bush, the world renowned composer of choral and Opera music.

I will always remember this occasion, because I was privileged to meet men of the calibre of Jim Callan and Len Misledene, and who both gave me excellent support and advice on my first attendance at the Final Appeal Court, which served me well , during my 14 years as a member of the Court. Unfortunately, both Jim and Len have died, but they still live in my memory as dear friends and comrades.

It was in the 1960s. that a dispute started at Roberts' Arundel Ltd., Stockport and it was a bitter dispute, taking place because an American company had taken over the firm, which, whilst it had been run by British employers, there were good relations, industrially and with the Unions.

However, this American firm, intended to smash the Trade Union organisation by undermining the existing wages and conditions. This, of course, was resisted by the Trade Unions, and the sacking of Shop Stewards took place, which gave the Unions no alternative, after negotiations broke down, due to the negative actions of the employers, to strike.

Thus started one of the bitterest strikes to take place in the Engineering Industry, with " scab labour" being used to try and break the strike. The unions, under the leadership of John Tocher, the then, Stockport District Secretary, organised a brilliant campaign, which involved planting spies amongst the scabs, to find out where the products of the Factory were being transported to, so that they could be "Blacked" on their arrival at ports and airports.

Excellent support was coming from the Dockers and Airport workers, in "Blacking" the Products from Roberts' Arundel. Besides all this, bitter confrontation broke out between the 'scabs' police and strikers, and after 12 months the American employer, packed his bags, and went home.

It was a victory for the British worker and Trade unions, in that we would not allow foreign employers to undermine Trade Unionism in this country.

Page 63 Walkden A.E.U. Branch played its part, by sending financial assistance and pickets to aid the strikers.

At the latter end of the 1960s. a local dispute took place at Coral Plastics Ltd in Walkden. It concerned a number of Asian workers, who wished to join the Union, but because of this, the management sacked them and recruited “scab labour" from the local population, all of whom were British.

Walkden branch supported our Asian brothers, and sent letters of support to the strike committee, along with a financial donation. We sent resolutions to Bolton District Committee, and the Farnworth and Worsley Trade Council, asking for support. Because the Asian workers jobs had been taken over by white people, the call on the Picket line was changed from "Black legs " to "White legs".

The outcome of the strike was , that Coral Plastics, a firm who moved about from different areas, hoping to attract cheap labour, was seen off from Walkden, by the united action of the Trade Unions.

In 1968, I was appointed a Governor of Worsley College of Further Education, which later amalgamated with Salford Colleges, and became Salford College of Further Education. I was a Governor, until it became a Corporation, run by the Further Education Funding Council in 1993.

I had been a member of the Governing Body for 25 years, and during that time, I was elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

I was serving in the capacity of Vice-Chairman of the Governors, when the College was taken out of Local Authority Control, which I opposed, because I believed that the interests of the College, the students, and the community, would be best served by elected Councillors, who were answerable to local people.

In 1991, 1 took a Resolution from Worsley Constituency Labour Party, to the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, which opposed F.E. Colleges being taken out of Local Education Authority control, and by my persistence at Conference, it was placed on the Agenda, and carried unanimously.

In April 1993, I was co-opted onto the Board of Governors of the College, under the new set-up of an Independent Corporation, known as Salford College. (More about this in later chapters.)

Page 64 As the 1960s. came to a close, my eldest son, Francis, was married, the family still remained close, due to a caring home life with Margaret, his wife happily joining us. This comforting feeling was necessary, as I took part in my Trade Union and Labour Party activities.

I was praised when I had won battles, and comforted when I had lost some on behalf of the working people. Of course, my sons and daughters were enthusiastic about the musical sounds of the 60s., ( I called it dustbin-lid music), because to me, it had no meaning at all.

The 1960s. also heralded the drug era, and I am relieved to say that no member of my family succumbed to the habit of taking drugs.

My father and mother were approaching their 70s. and Mabel and I were in our 40s, and were now in a better position to go on our holidays, than we had been before, so in the early 60s. , we could manage to take the family on holiday to Bude, in Cornwall, with my sister Mary and her husband Norman, and their daughter Marjorie.

We placed a double mattress in the back, and all ten of us piled in the back, Mabel was expecting Cathryn, our youngest daughter at the time, and the other children were head to tail on the mattress. We had as much fun on the journey, as we did on the holiday.

There were some wonderful holidays with all the children, however, as they grew older, they wanted to spend their holiday separately, so Francis, David and Alan made their arrangements, and Susan, Brian and eventually Cathryn made ours.

In 1967, Armitage Labour Club opened, the main organisations which were in the forefront were the Little Hulton East Labour Party, and the Committee and members of Little Hulton Labour Club.

One of the reasons for the opening of the new Club, was that hundreds of families had been moved from Salford, into Council houses, which had been built, and were still being built, in Madams' Wood Estate, and the people had no building where any social activities could take place.

The deeds of the Club were not only for the selling of alcoholic drinks, but also as an outlet for meetings for educational purposes, including Trade Union and Political activities, also serving the community for birthday and wedding functions.

Page 65 The Women’s Committee of the Labour Party, played a leading part in organising these functions, as well as serving refreshments each week-end during the Social functions. They also ran the Bingo sessions, with all the profits being used for all the equipment and crockery in the kitchen, and bringing in much needed finance to help pay off the debt for the Club.

Mabel was an active member of this Committee, I was one of the Founder Members' on the Committee that built the Club. One of the requirements to be a member, was that you had to be a Member of the Labour Party, or a Member of an appropriate Trade Union.

When the Club opened there were over one thousand members, and the debt to the Brewery, from whom we borrowed money, was over Fifty Thousand Pounds.

When I retired from employment in 1984, I became a Trustee, but I am sorry to say that through inflation, and running the Club, such as heating, rates, repairs, Bar Staff wages, and entertainment etc., which has to be paid for by the members, we have had to take further loans from the Breweries, which has placed the Club in the position of being heavily in debt to them.

The situation is, that the members pay for the running of the Club, which is costing Five Hundred Pounds per week, whilst the Breweries are making big profits for the sale of beer, spirits etc., and not paying anything towards the expenses of running the club. The only thing we receive from them, is a discount on the amount of beer we sell, which is a pittance in comparison to their profits.

Therefore as I write this book in 1993, the Club is in debt to the tune of One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Pounds. Despite this, the Club continues to function, and at the present time is being administered by three male officials and a Committee of six women, who are doing an excellent job at the present time, to bring the Club out of its present difficulties.

Incidentally, the women in Armitage Labour Club, are on equal rights as the male members, and I believe it is the first Labour Club, to be run by an all female Committee; also, all employees, such as Bar Staff etc., being members of a Trade Union receive the Union rate of pay. Walkden South Labour Party Branch hold their monthly meeting in the Club.

The 1960s. came to a close with Nations divided. The Korean and Vietnam Wars had taken their toll of lives and mass destruction.

Page 66 CHAPTER 8.

THE TURBULENT SEVENTIES.

With the 1970s. came the Tory Government, with Edward Heath as Prime Minister, and with the same policies as the past Tory Governments' of looking after their own class, the rich, and bringing in Income Policies, which kept the wages and benefits down for the working class.

They also brought in legislation to restrict the activities of the Trade Unions, known as the Industrial Relations Act. It provided for an Industrial Relations Court and Tribunals, which had power to fine, or seize Union funds.

During the 70s., four of our children were married. Alan in 1970, Susan in 1972,David in 1973, and Brian in 1977. This left only Mabel, Cathryn, aged 10 years and myself.

It seemed strange after being used to having six children in the house, that over a period of only nine years, there were now only three in the family. We were very fortunate in the fact that they all settled down, and made their homes and raised their families locally; only David moved to Zambia, with his employment, for a period, but within five years he came back, and set up home locally.

This meant, because of strong family ties, we were never short of them coming to see us.

It was during the early 70s. that my mother and father moved to a bungalow, and we moved, after modernisation, into their house at 3, Worsley Avenue. The house had a lovely well-kept garden, which my father, although he was 80 years old, had, along with my assistance, attended regularly.

Looking back to 1934, when my mother, father and family, moved into the house, he bought a wooden garden shed for the princely sum of four pounds, ten shillings, (£4.50). It was 8ft by 4ft., and is well and truly , still

Page 67 standing, after 59 years as I write in 1993. This is the length of time that Hankinson’s have lived in this house.

In 1970, the membership of Walkden A.E.U. Branch had risen to 680 members, I was still secretary, and because I had been a lay member Official, for over 20 years, I was granted the Unions' Award of Merit, which was presented to me by Hugh Scanlon, President of the A.E.U., at a Social Evening, held at Walkden Labour Club.

Some 200 members and their wives and families attended, also, because some of our Unions' National Committee were meeting in Blackpool, they attended, along with John Roper, M.P. I was presented with a cheque for twenty pounds, and Mabel was presented with a bouquet, from all the members of the Branch, in appreciation of the help and assistance she had given me. This kind gesture was very much appreciated by us both.

When Hugh Scanlon addressed the audience, I was honoured and privileged, not only to receive the Award, but to have so many people from our locality, and to have the honour of members of the National Committee present also.

I don't think that this has happened at a presentation in the past, by our Union. It was a great social occasion with the entertainment being provided by Mary Dilworth and Jeffery Holme, with songs from Light Opera etc., and the Jones' Boys, a very talented, local brother duo.

During the 1970s. the Vietnam War was still raging, with America pouring in thousands of combat troops, to try to stop this little country , in it's efforts to emancipate their people from poverty and dependency on the International Capitalists. Frequent bombing raids took place, dropping petrol and chemical explosives, as well as high explosive bombs on the ordinary people.

The fact emerged, that there were more explosives used against this tiny country, than were used in the whole time of the Second World War. This did not deter the heroic people of Vietnam, who, after many years of fighting the French, and forcing them to evacuate their country, succeeded in forcing the Americans to withdraw. Thousands of Vietnamese people and soldiers, were killed or wounded, as were thousands of American soldiers.

It was through the mass protests taking place in America, and throughout the world, that America withdrew from Vietnam. At the

Page 68 signing of the Peace Accords in Paris, the United States agreed to pay billions of dollars in reparations, however, not a penny has been paid, from that day, to this (1993).

The fact is, that the U. S. Politicians are using as an excuse, the 2000 service men missing during the war. This is being used to operate an economic war against the people of Vietnam, in the same way as the economic blockade of Cuba, because they too have defeated the U.S. efforts to bring down the Socialist government of their country.

This then, is the way the Capitalist countries, Britain amongst them, are keeping the people of the Third World, poor and destitute. The Capitalist countries in the world are responsible, by their economic blockades, of destroying the forward march of the peoples of the world for a better standard of living, which, since the break-up of progress towards Socialism, has brought Civil Wars in these countries.

Take Yugoslavia, as an example, where thousands of people are being killed and wounded. This never happened when the country was unified under a Communist Government. The same is happening in the former Soviet Union. The slogans we were fed by the Media and Western Government propaganda, was, "There is no freedom in these countries".

Now, since the Leftist governments' have disappeared, there is freedom to slaughter one another, and create unemployment and racism, in these so-called, liberated countries.

At the beginning of the 1970s. Hugh Scanlon was re-elected as President of the A.E.U. and I was also re-elected to our Unions' Final Appeal Court; this was despite the Media, advising our membership, that we were both backed by the Communist Party. Despite this, we were both elected , by ballot, with increased majorities.

Page 69 My Presidency of the 1971 Final Appeal Court in Bangor, N. Ireland

In 1973, I was elected Bolton District President, this again being a dirty election, with the right-wing issuing leaflets from fictitious addresses. However, the ballot was a record turn-out and I was duly elected, and held the position of President, until I retired in 1984.

This led to our District Committee, with Bill Dagnall, as District Secretary, becoming the main Union in Bolton, fighting the Industrial Relations Act. We organised a one day strike, and some 1,004 workers marched from Queens' Park, through the streets of Bolton , to the Town Hall Square, where we held a Rally, which I addressed from the steps of the Town Hall.

This was frowned upon by our Executive Council, because it was not official policy of our Union and the T.U.C. In spite of this, we, the rank and file of the Unions, were the people who forced our leaders to give us some backing. There were three main incidents which took place in the 1970s.;

There was the case of the five Dockers, who were imprisoned for taking industrial action; They were released because the rank and file members forced the T.U.C. to tell the Government, that a one day, National Strike

Page 70 would take place. The five Dockers were known as " The Pentonville Five", due to their incarceration in Pentonville Prison, for adhering to their principles.

The second incident was the fine placed on the A.E.U. of 50,000 pounds, by the Industrial Relations Court, for refusing to take back into our Union, a member who flouted Union rules, this meant that our Executive Council voted with Hugh Scanlon, the Presidents' casting vote, to call out the whole of the A.E.U. membership to strike.

This was carried out by the vast majority of members who were solidly behind the decision. The strike lasted one day, with someone paying the fine. It was rumoured that the Engineers' Employers Federation paid the fine, but this could not be proved. This was known as the Con. Mech. Dispute.

The third dispute was the Miners' strike, in which Arthur Scargill played a prominent part, organising mass picketing. One of the incidents was at a coking plant in the Midlands, where hundreds of police confronted the miners, who were out-numbered, but the engineers at factories in the area, decided to down tools and join the picket.

This was too much for the police, and they closed the gates of the coking plant. The miners' strike was called because the wages of the miners had fallen, due to the Incomes Policy of both the Labour and Tory Governments. This was the decade of the solidarity of the workers, not only did the Miners win the Strike, but it brought down the Tory Government, and at the General Election, a Labour Government was returned by a small majority of three.

During all these actions and demonstrations, Bill Dagnall and I were in close liaison, and we formed a special task force in preparation, if called upon, to defend any attempt by the Government, to take over the A.E.U. Offices in Bolton. The members of the task force consisted of Branch Officials, Shop Stewards from factories, such as British Aerospace, Thos. Ryders, Edbros' Ltd., Hick Hargreaves, Richard Hough Ltd., and other active members of the Trade Union movement in Bolton. No attempt was made because the incoming Labour Government brought in legislation, known as The Trade Union and Labour Relations Act, which gave Unions some protection in law.

Page 71 In the 70s. the Fascist organisation, known as the National Front, became active in the Bolton area. They arranged meetings in Farnworth and Bolton Town Halls, and we, from the Bolton and Salford T.U.Cs' played an active part organising demonstrations against the introduction of Racism and Fascism in our area.

I was sickened to see young men, whose fathers and grandfathers, had fought against Fascism in the Second World war, giving the Fascist salute as they entered their meetings, protected by hundreds of police. The outcome was, that an Antifascist group was formed, and I was elected Chairman.

The group consisted of people from all Political parties, and Church groups etc., Who were united in their aim that we would not allow Fascism to gain control in Britain. At our first meeting, over one hundred delegates attended and an Ad-hoc committee was set up, consisting of Trade Unionists, Church

Page 72 people, Communists, Liberal and Tory party members. There were also members of the extreme Left political parties, such as the Socialist Workers, and the Workers Revolutionary Parties on the Committee.

The Committee set to work on schemes that would tackle Racism in the area, but the inevitable happened; the extreme Left brought in their political differences, and this caused the Group to split. I often wonder if this is the ploy of the ultra-left groups, to go along in unity against the common enemy, and then cause disruption and dissent.

Is there some kind of agent- provocateur in their organisation.? Therefore, this action brought to an end the Bolton Anti-Fascist Committee, and each organisation went their own way, in tackling Racism.

In the early 70s. the Tory Government introduced the Housing Finance Act, which meant that council house rents were to be increased by 10/- per week. The Tenants' Associations, the Trade Unions, members of the Labour Party, and the Communist Party, set up action groups to oppose this, in our area, because we wanted unity of all people. We formed the Worsley Tenants and Owner-occupiers Association, whose members comprised of Council house, and private landlord tenants, and people who were buying their own homes.

The membership grew to over 1,000, with mass meetings, all over the district being organised, which were all packed to capacity. I remember one such meeting, which was held at the Pembroke Halls, at which over 1,000 people attended.

Members of Worsley Urban District Council were on the platform, and they put the point to us, that they would have to comply with the Governments' legislation, and implement the increase. Both my sons, Francis and Alan, were prominent in the organisation, Alan was the Secretary and Editor of the newssheet, " Worsley Banner". One article in the first issue, was giving an example of how biased the media was against the people.

He wrote the following article, about how a lion had escaped from the Zoo, and attacked a small child, and a burly docker appeared and grappled with the lion, and rescued the child. In the ensuing struggle the docker was severely injured, and had to be taken to Hospital for a life saving operation. The headlines in the paper the next day, read, "Dockland thug slays child’s pet'". So much for the Truth.!!

Page 73 The campaign against the Housing Finance Act, went on for about nine months, up to the time when the Tory Government was defeated in the General Elections.

Many demonstrations took place up and down the country at this time. Our organisation, at a Mass Meeting, decided that we, the tenants, should refuse to pay the increase.

Francis, who was the Treasurer, made a speech, on behalf of the people who were buying their homes, making the point that if Council house rents were allowed to rise, this could be the signal for the Building Societies, to increase Mortgage Rates. Local authorities were having their borrowing powers cut by the Government, and this meant that less houses for rent would be built, throwing more young people to the mercy of money- lenders, which could lead to many families going into arrears with their Mortgages, and having their homes repossessed.

This, of course came true in later years. The culmination of our campaign came, when we organised a demonstration, and marched to Worsley Town Hall, on the night when the Council were discussing the implementation of the Housing Finance Act, in our locality.

The March assembled on Peel Park, Little Hulton, with Little Hulton Pipe Band in the lead. It was a very bad night, the weather was very cold, and it was snowing heavily. There were only about ten people at the start, which was most disappointing as the Media were there.

Nevertheless, we started off with a lone policeman leading the March, and the Pipe Band started playing. We who were on the March, were rather downhearted, as it was 7-30 in the evening, and the popular Soap Opera. "Coronation Street", was on the television, but as we marched down Kenyon Way, doors opened, and people, heavily clad, joined the March;

This was repeated along Madams' Wood Road, and by the time we reached Armitage Labour Club, where a great crowd of people joined in, there were over 1,000 people on the March, and the police had to get re-enforcement's to police the March. All this, despite the cold and the snow, seemed to make the Pipe Band play even better, and the marchers were now in fine spirits as they marched up Hilton Lane, and along Manchester Road, to Walkden, with more people joining the March en route.

When we reached Walkden, there were about 300 more people, waiting to join us, the police were reinforced, so off we moved down Memorial Road

Page 74 to the Town Hall. By the time we arrived, there were about 2,000 people in the March, and the Council agreed that a Deputation would be allowed into the Council Chamber, and I, as the Vice Chairman, put our case to the Council, which was Labour-controlled.

Amongst the Councillors, there were three who supported us, they were Councillors John Ward, Stanley Martin and Tom Hobbs, who voted against the increase, but with Tory and Liberal backing, the vote went against us. When this was transmitted to the crowd outside, there was booing and abuse shouted, consequently, the Councillors had to be ushered out of the back entrance of the Town Hall, and after long arguments with the police, the crowd finally dispersed.

So ended the siege of Worsley Town Hail. The whole episode had been covered by the media, both locally and nationally.

At this point, I would like to record my appreciation to Councillor John Ward, who, although disabled by blindness, was the Chairman of our Organisation; Vic. Booth, who like my two sons, were members of the Communist Party, John Sproston, Mrs. Doris Fernandez, and many other men and women who contributed to our success, which, when the Labour Government was elected in 1974, the Housing Act on Finance was repealed.

The whole episode showed how families and communities, when they get together, can do things that people on their own find it difficult to achieve.

In the local Government Elections, the Tenants' Association were considering putting candidates against Labour Councillors, who had voted in favour of the Rent increases, but because some of us were members of the Labour Party, we could not stand, therefore, we asked Vic. Booth, and others who were members of the Communist Party, to stand as Tenants Association Candidates.

They refused, but stood under their own Party Banner, and only just, and lost to sitting Labour Councillors. It was felt if they had stood as Tenants Association Candidates, they would have won,

Yes, the 1970s was a very important time in the life of the working class, not only had we shown our solidarity, both at union and industrial level in our area. Up and down the country ordinary people became united

Page 75 against the governments legislation's, such as the Housing Finance Act and the Industrial Relations Act.

More people, both male and female, were joining trade unions, Walkden AEU branch recruited more than 50 women members, this was in contrast to the situation of none, when I became secretary of the branch.

In January 1976, 28 members of the branch employed at Automat Ltd, went on strike, because the management refused to recognise the union, and they sacked the leaders of the group. This strike lasted for 12 months until January 1977, and I think it was the longest strike ever to take place in the engineering industry in the Manchester area.

Unfortunately, the records which I sent to Bolton AEU District Office, were lost when the office in Bolton was moved. The strike was a bitter one, and it was supported Salford Trade Union Council, Manchester and Bolton District Committees and other trade unions, who imposed a black-list of all goods produced at Automat.

Of the 28 members who were on strike, over 50% were women members, who, along with their male comrades, remained on strike until victory was achieved. After 12 months on strike, the management agreed to recognise the AEU, and also pay the average district rate of wages.

Our thanks and gratitude to the shop steward, Tom Smith, and the female and male members who remained solidly behind him. Also congratulations to John Tocher the union officer, who was in charge of negotiations, which ended not only in victory, but Automat workers all joined the union.

This again showed solidarity of all the working people of different unions, who supported our brothers and sisters in this dispute. I hope that somewhere, records can be found, because this was an historical occasion in the Manchester area.

It was in these times that Mabel again came to the aid of our struggles, she made a banner for the use of Farnworth and Worsley Trades Council, and the Tenants Association, which were taken to London on National demonstrations.

It was also in the 70s that referendum took place on the question of whether we should remain members of the Common Market, now known as the European Community.

Page 76 I, along with others from the Trade Unions, the Labour Party, the Communist Party and other sections of the Labour movement, campaigned for a ' No ' vote, because we believed that this was set up by international capitalism, to keep at bay the aspirations of the people of Europe to move forward to a more just and equitable society, we were not " Little Englanders ", as some Tories who opposed the “Yes” vote.

We believed in International Co-operation and trade with all countries on a fair and just basis, not imposing barriers of trading with the Soviet Union and other East European countries, because their economy was not related to the capitalist system.

In fact, I myself believed that the Common Market was set up as a barrier against the Soviet Union and other countries trying to advance towards socialism, and along with America and West European Governments, who formed NATO (The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) which was a military alliance, forced the Soviet Union to spend vast amounts of money and resources on armaments, including nuclear weapons, to match the military might of the NATO countries.

This, eventually, along with trade embargoes, forced the East European Countries to abandon their attempt to progress towards socialism, and introduce a capitalist system, which is having devastating effects on the people of these countries.

During this period I appeared on platforms with prominent people from the Labour and Trade Union movements. These included, David Young, MP. for Bolton and Michael Meacher, MP. for Oldham, but alas with 99% of the media, and the Tory, Liberal, and the majority of Labour MPs supporting the “Yes” vote, it was an overwhelming victory for Britain to stay as members of the European Union.

I still think we were right to oppose the capitalist set - up which has brought a downward turn in the standard of life in Eastern Europe and also in Britain.

Page 77 CHAPTER 9

THE GATHERING STORM

I have given the above name to the chapter, because the gains and victories of the working class, by the later end of the 1970s, were beginning to be eroded away: International capitalists were forcing the Labour Government to cut back on expenditure, which meant welfare and social benefits were being cut, public expenditure, such as new hospitals, house building, and grants to local authorities were being cut back.

Harold Wilson, the prime minister, resigned, and was replaced by Jim Callagan whose government imposed a wages policy, which was that no worker could get more than 5% increase. This virtually meant a wage freeze, because inflation was well above 5%.

The Tories, along with their capitalist supporters, were not behind the door in making plans to undermine the trade unions, and bring down the standard of living of the British workers. They had not forgotten the defeats they suffered in the late 60s and early 70s by the united efforts of the trade union and labour movement, such as the "The Industrial Relations Act" and the victory of the, miners, which eventually brought about the downfall of the Tory Government.

They elected Margaret Thatcher as leader of the opposition for the Conservatives, and they set about making plans to undermine the trade union and labour movement once they attained power. Nicholas Ridley was the main architect of the plan, which was to attack the strongest and most loyal members of the unions, the miners.

Mrs Thatcher was preaching the ideals of individuality, and the virtues of a market economy, and she was backed up by big business and 90% of the media.

The Labour Government, the Labour Party and the TUC, with their policy of 5% wage freeze meant that lower paid workers, such as refuse collectors, and other Local Government employees, along with labourers, postal delivery services and NHS workers, who were already at the bottom of the

Page 78 ladder in wages and earnings, were badly affected. It brought about divisions amongst the working class by the fact that unskilled workers were getting about £2,50p per week, whilst the skilled workforce were getting between £5 to £6 per week increase. Therefore the lower paid went on strike, which was known as the winter of discontent in 1979. Refuse was left on the streets, funerals and hospital admissions were affected: all this was happening under a Labour Government, playing into the hands of the Conservative Party who were elected to govern Britain for the next 5yrs, with Margaret Thatcher as prime minister.

Therefore in 1979 came the beginning of legislation to curb the rights of trade unionists and start the attack on the working people, cuts in services such as social and welfare benefits, increases in VAT. from 8% to 15%, also lower taxes for the rich. Nationalised Industries were privatised, giving big profits to the shareholders, unemployment began to rise, these were some of the events that were happening during the first 4yrs of Tory rule, and the people began to take notice of what was happening.

Consequently the governments credibility was low, and as the general election time in 1983-84 was approaching, the Government had to find some way of winning back the support of the voters. The event that gained them support, was the war in the Falkland Islands. What took place in this far off island, was as follows:

Argentina, which was governed by a military junta, and supported by the British Government, decided to occupy the Falkland Islands, which was under British rule. The Island which formerly belonged to Argentina, was invaded by military forces, which took place without any bloodshed, this was opposed by the residents, and the British Governor, called for assistance from Britain.

This was duly given and a military task force set sail for the South Pacific. When the task force reached the Falklands, they were poised for attacking and retaking the Island, assisted by the Royal Navy, and RAF.

What followed was the diplomatic activity from the United Nations, and countries adjacent to Argentina, forced the Argentine Government to discuss the withdrawal of its forces from the Falklands, but while negotiations were taking place fur the withdrawal of the Argentinean forces, an incident happened, in which an Argentinean warship, named the "Belgrano" was sunk by a British submarine, when it was cruising outside the zone surrounding the

Page 79 Falkland Islands, which resulted in the loss of life of hundreds of personnel on board.

This of course changed the whole nature of negotiations for the withdrawal of forces from the Island. The Argentine Government decided any attempt at landing would be resisted. The result was, that after constant bombardment by the British Navy and RAF. British troops landed on the Island, and after a bloody campaign, the British forces occupied the Island, with the Argentinean forces suffering heavy casualties. The British losses were over 200 killed with personnel wounded also.

The British operation was a brilliant piece of military strategy with the British personnel carrying out their task in a brave and commendable way.

After it was all over, there were many people who believed that the sinking of the "Belgrano" was a deliberate attempt to usurp the negotiations, which were taking place for the withdrawal of Argentine forces from the Island.

Of course this had the desired effect, as far as the Tory Government was concerned, and when the British forces returned, a victory parade took place in London, with Mrs Thatcher and the Government gaining tremendous popularity, so that when a general election took place in 1983, the Conservatives were elected with an increased majority, and given a further mandate to attack the unions and the standard of living of the British people, including many of them who had fought in the Falkland campaign.

Before the Conservative Government was elected, my father died in 1978 at the age of 87 years, had he lived to see the way the conditions of the working people of Britain were being eroded away, compared to what was achieved in 1945 by legislation by the Labour Government, he would have been angry and disappointed.

Mabel retired from working in 1980 at the age of 50 years involving herself in keep fit for the over 50s, and a choir, to occupy her new found spare time.

I was still involved in Trade Union and Labour Party activity as well as my work as a governor at Salford College and Joseph Eastham High School.

Page 80 All our children, except Cathryn, were married with children, and my mother who was approaching her 90s and lived in a bungalow, she was visited regularly by all her family.

When Cathryn and Barry were married they went from the wedding ceremony to visit Grandma as she was unable to attend the wedding she was then 90yrs old.

I was approaching retirement and I became more involved with activity within the Labour Party, Mabel assisted me by typing my Press Releases and letters, she began to accompany me to meetings and Labour Party Conferences.

I recall one incident at a fund -raising event at our constituency headquarters in Emlyn Hall, Walkden, the guest of honour was Lord Brockway, formerly Fenner Brockway, Labour MP, he was to perform the opening of the bazaar ceremony.

He was formerly introduced to all the guests, and when the introductions were over, he came across the room to where Mabel and myself were standing and asked if there was anywhere that he could get a drink of beer in the hall. I explained that the only drink he could get in Emlyn Hall was tea. He enquired where the nearest public house was and would I take him there before the opening ceremony. I agreed, so off we went the Stocks Hotel, leaving Mabel in the hall. (I don't think she was too pleased with my decision.)

I must explain, that Lord Brockway was a well known figure internationally and nationally for his work for freedom in our colonies and equality for ethnic people in Britain. He was also totally opposed to nuclear weapons and was in the forefront in the campaign to stop the nuclear arms build up. He was also a staunch supporter of the working people in Britain.

As we approached the Stocks Hotel, he insisted that we go into the public bar instead of the lounge, and as we were sitting there, a discussion was taking place amongst the locals about the effects of the anti trade union legislation. (The Tebbit Bill.) would have on the working conditions of the British people. Of course he joined in, explaining in detail, what the restrictions meant to the working class people.

Of course the discussion took longer than just having one drink, for as Lord Brockway was making telling points to his audience, in walked two of the

Page 81 committee members of the Labour Party, saying that everything was ready for the opening ceremony in Emlyn Hall. Of course, I was blamed for taking him to the Stocks Hotel, and the delay it caused in opening the bazaar. The bazaar was a tremendous success, due to the all the efforts of the men and women who organised it, led by Mrs, Edith Pennington, wife of Councillor Joseph Pennington, the President of Worsley Labour Party and leader of Worsley Urban District Council. Both are now deceased, but will be remembered with affection, for the Stirling work they did on behalf of the Labour Party, and the community of Worsley.

I will always have the satisfaction of knowing Joe Pennington, as a man who fought for the principles he believed in, although I disagreed with some of his political views, he recognised that I had a right to my views, and we both wanted a Labour Government to bring about a more just and equitable society for the people of Britain.

However, in the 1980s, noises were being made inside the Labour Party about ditching clause 4, from the party constitution, and replacing the word Socialism with Social Democracy, also there were some sections inside the party who wanted to break links with the trade unions. These ideas were perpetuated by Labour MPs namley, Roy Jenkins, Shirley Williams, David Owen, and others who had severed links with the party, and formed the Social Democrat Party ( SDP ) with strong links with the Liberal Party.

Our MP. John Roper, decided to join the SDP. and tried to take members of the Constituency Labour Party with him. He had meetings with members of the constituency, which resulted in one of the members breaking ranks and joining the SDP.

I wrote to John Roper, reminding him that the then people of Farnworth Constituency had returned him to Parliament as a Labour MP, and he should resign and fight a bye-election, he refused. Therefore the Constituency had to hold a selection meeting to select a candidate to represent Labour at the next general election.

It was during this period that the constituency boundaries were changed , which meant we would be losing voters in the Farnworth area and replacing them with voters in Cadishead and Irlam.. The new constituency became known as Worsley.

Page 82 At the final selection meeting there were five candidates who had been short listed, one of them was Terry Lewis, who had never wavered in his belief in Socialism, and had been a member of the Labour Party for many years and was chairman of the Farnworth Constituency Party before the boundary changes. Terry was also a member of the Transport and General Workers Union ( TGWU. ), and he was in the forefront in the fight resisting the take over of the constituency by John Roper and the SDP. Although he was not an intellectual or a polished orator like some of the candidates at the selection meeting. He was selected because of his background and his efforts on behalf of the Labour Party Over many years.

In 1983 the General Election took place, Terry Lewis came top of the poll beating both the Tory, and John Roper of the SDP, he has remained the MP for Worsley up to the present day (1993), winning twice in 1987, and 1992 increasing his majority on both occasions.

Although he has some faults, like any other person, he has been the best constituency MP this area has had, and twice he has won the media prize for being the hardest working constituency MP, he has been in the forefront inside and outside the House of Commons on the side of the working class people, the pensioners and disabled.

He brought to the notice the pornographic telephone "Chat Lines" which British Telecom allowed to be marketed when they were privatised. It was through his efforts in Parliament, British Telecom were forced to change some of their franchises on" Chat Lines ".

He also supported the people who opposed Open Cast Mining in this area, and again spoke at length in the House of Commons against the proposals which helped to play an important part at the public inquiry, which rejected British Coals proposals for Open Cast Mining. Terry Lewis also brought to the notice of the residents of Worsley the Department of Transports proposals to build a relief Motorway which was to pass through Worsley, which would mean many houses in the pathway of the proposed Motorway would have to be demolished, and the environment in the area would be severely affected. He helped to set up the Residents Against Motorways ( RAM ) which held its first meeting in Worsley Court House which overflowed outside approx. 400 people attended, because of

Page 83 the number of people involved the next meeting was held in Worsley Church when over 750 people attended.

The MP made speeches in the House of Commons in support of the protest campaign, and it was due to the protests, petitions, and demonstrations organised by RAM backed up by the efforts of our MP in the House of Commons, that the proposals for the Motorway have been withdrawn. Walkden Branch AEEU, Worsley Constituency Labour Party, sent delegates to the RAM meetings and also played an active part in the campaign.

It was during the 1980s that mass redundancies and unemployment came on the scene, the government began to make big cuts in monies which Local Authorities needed to keep local services going, consequently the quality of life deteriorated. After the Government had defeated the miners who had been on strike for 12 months 1984 to 1985 the way was clear to bring more restrictions on trade unions and working people.

Further legislation was made law which made it nearly impossible to take strike action without union finances being sequestrated, and after the miners were left to the mercy of the Government by the failure of the TUC and Labour Movement to unite behind the miners.

The Tory Government, the Employers and the Capitalists had a field day, cutting wages, holidays, and sacking full time workers and re-employing them on temporary basis, at the same time our manufacturing industries were being closed down which brought about the loss of skilled workers and technicians that made our country in the past one of the best in the world at building ships, and machinery etc, these products are now being imported.

This was Tory Britain from 1979 going backwards to the 1930s, but creating a bonanza for the rich in the period from 1979 to 1993 when £31 billion was cut from taxes with the richest people getting the biggest share. It was during this period that Margaret Thatcher the Prime Minister made the following quote.

There is no such thing as society. There are men and women and their families, and no government can do anything except through

Page 84 people, and our people must look to themselves and then look after our neighbours.

This was the philosophy that Margaret Thatcher and the Tory Government fed to the people during the 16 years of Governing Britain.

The results were the loss of community spirit, family life was seriously disrupted by the system that created unemployment, workers taking jobs at less wages than workers who had been sacked for being members of trade unions. It was during these years that all our basic industries were being privatised such as Electricity, Gas Water and Public Transport etc.

In 1984 I retired from working at Richard Hough Ltd, where I had worked for 27 years of which I was AEU Convenor for many years It was a memorable occasion, the management gave all the workforce the afternoon off work with pay, and I was along with the Shop Stewards Committee from Richard Hough and officials of Bolton District Committee AEU were given a lunch in Bolton Town Hall with the Mayor in attendance.

After the lunch was over I thanked the Mayor for the honour they had bestowed on me, I also paid tribute to the shop stewards and workers at Richard Hough Ltd, for their support they had given me during the time I had worked with and represented them.

It was later when the reception was over I went and joined the men and women who I had worked with at a Hotel in Bolton, I made another speech thanking them and the management for the Electric Chip Fryer and Radio Cassette they had presented me with, I also thanked them on behalf of Mabel who was in hospital.

I will always remember with affection that day and the days I was associated with the Workers at Richard Hough Ltd. I must also mention the wrist watch the management presented me with which I wear at the present time in 1996.

Unfortunately during this period Mabel was in hospital, later during the evening I went to visit her and told her of the wonderful tributes that had been paid to me on my retirement, it was during this visit a beautiful Basket of Silk Flowers was brought into the ward, a present from the Staff and members of Bolton District Committee AEU in appreciation of the help and

Page 85 assistance she had given me during my years as a activist in the trade union movement.

It was at a later date the Bolton District Committee AEU. organised a function to mark my retirement as District President this took place at Breightmet Labour Club. I was presented with a cheque for £250. from District Committee, and Union Branches in the District, also I received a personnel Radio and Cassette Player From the members of Walkden Branch AEU, and a Electric Drill from the Shop Stewards Committee at Silcoms Ltd. All the members of the family were there except Mabel Who had only been discharged from hospital the day before the presentation. After this event I thought all the presentations were over, but this was not to be, I was invited to the No 10 Divisional Committee AEU. of which I had been Chairman for the past 8 years before I retired and I was presented with a cheque for £80. My comments to all the accolade, is that I am proud and honoured to have served the working class movement.

In 1984 my mother died at the age of 91 years, and she was laid to rest with my father at Worsley, along with my sisters Maria and Dorithea who died in their infancy, this ended the life of a good and loving mother and father who brought us through life by teaching my sisters Joan and Mary, and brother Bill to do on to others as we would liked to be done by, this is the code we have tried to adhere to throughout our lives. I still visit the grave on their birthdays, and at Christmas.

I was still involved in Trade Union and Labour Partv activities as well as my work as governor at Salford College and Joseph Easthams High School. All our children were married, giving Mabel and myself the opportunity to go on holidays on our own.

I had always wanted to visit the Soviet Union. Therefore Mabel and myself decided to go there. We arrived in Moscow in October 1984, where we spent 2 days, then on the Black Sea Coast, from there we went to Kiev, we finished our holiday In Leningrad.

It was a very enjoyable holiday, and we decided that we must go again. So in 1985 we set off again, this time we decided that we would not go on as many guided tours, but wander about at will, which we did in Moscow, Yalta, and Leningrad, taking photographs and visiting places without any restrictions.

Page 86 In Yalta we photographed Naval Vessels, proving that what we were told by our Media was untrue, there was no inflation, and prices had not risen for over 20 years. The cruel irony is, that although the USSR defeated the Nazis, and played a major part in the allied victory, it was the offensive of the German and Western capitalists that helped to shape the collapse of the Soviet economy in the 1990s.

Page 87 CHAPTER 10.

THE NATIONAL PENSIONERS MOVEMENT.

In 1984 when I retired I helped to form the Bolton and District Retired Members Association (RIM) which is still active in 1995. We campaign both locally and nationally on a wide range of issues, such as Rail Privatisation, standing charges for Gas, Electricity, Concessionary Fares on Public Transport etc, also our members have been involved in the campaign to oppose the increasing of VAT .on fuel, we collected signatures, and sent 5 members to the lobby of Parliament.

The pensioners movement played a leading role in this campaign which forced the government to abandon the increases, we also attended marches and demonstrations against privatising the Post Office, and running down the National Health Service ( NHS ) by closing wards and Hospitals and ending the role of Local Health Authorities whose constitution included elected members of the Local Authority.

This was replaced by a Health Authority whose members were appointed by the Government, this body proceeded to set up Hospital Trusts, which is gradually making the NHS into a two tier service, which will create a first class Health Service for the rich and a second class service for the majority of the people who cannot afford to pay.

Our monthly meetings take place at Bradford Ward Labour Club. We send delegates to the North West Pensioners monthly meetings which take place in Liverpool and Salford, also delegates attend meetings in London and Birmingham where the National Pensioners Convention ( NPC ) hold their meetings. Our funding is provided by Bolton District Committee, AEEC Branches, and Shop Stewards Committees.

In 1995 two delegates were appointed to attend the 1st Pensioners Parliament, which was held in Blackpool it was a tremendous success, 2,000 delegates attended, and the proceedings lasted 3 days, the Parliament was chaired by Jack Jones a retired General Secretary of the T&GWU has been the British Pensioners spokesman Nationally and the European Pensioners organisation at the European Community ( EC ).

Page 88 Other speakers who contributed in the debates were members of the European Parliament ( MEPs ), members of the British Parliament ( MPs), also Professors Alan Walker, and Peter Townsend, who were renowned experts on Pensions and Social Security.

The two main items were the Commision for Social Justice, ( The Borrie Report ), and Solidarity Between Generations. Professors Walker and Townsend opened the debate on these two items, they informed the delegates that the main elements of government strategy, was that pensions will be reduced, informing us that they have been reduced by 30% since the early 1980s because the link with average earnings had been discontinued.

Also if the present trend continued basic pensions would only be worth 6% of average earnings by the year 2020. On the second day Professor Townsend told delegates that the country had become more unequal in the last 16 years. He also said the Borrie Report weakly accepts the increase in poverty and supports privatisation of pensions, and had no plans to solve the deterioration of state pension guarantee.

He said the alternative should be a rise in purchasing power of pensions, and a proper link between private and state pensions, his conclusions were that the Borrie Report was inefficient to solve the deterioration of pensions.

The debate that followed centred on a resolution calling on the next Labour Government not to introduce means testing on basic pensions. I was called to the rostrum to speak to the resolution on behalf of Bolton and District AEEU. RMA.

I informed delegates that to improve basic pensions would not incur exorbitant costing. because the impact of aging of the population will only average 0. 32% over the next 50 years, and taking out a private pension schemes would place an heavy burden on the British people, for example to secure a pension of £12,000 per year in 2020 it would require £3,120 annual payments.

I concluded with by calling on the next Labour Government to keep to the principle of Universal Benefits which was brought into being in 1946, and unanimously accepted by the British people.

On the final day of Parliament the subject of Solidarity between Generations was discussed, amid delegates in speeches from the rostrum

Page 89 realised that we pensioners could not achieve our aims. Not only for us but for our younger generation if we did not bring them into campaigning for Social Justice for all.

The Parliament was a tremendous success and at 76vears old it instilled more vigour into me to carry on the fight for the betterment of life not only for pensioners but for the future of mankind. It was one of the proudest achievements of my life to have attended the 1st Pensioners Parliament.

My observation is that no longer are retired people to be treated by the image of pensioners portrayed by TV programmes, such as "Waiting For God" and " One Foot In The Grave". They are a group of 10 million people to be taken notice of, and they are concerned about those who follow them. This is the conclusion of a survey of 65 to 85 year olds which revealed that elderly people coped well, but they worry about those who will follow them.

Professor Peter Coleman of Southampton University, said that elderly people believed that things were not getting better, with society’s values changing and people riot caring so much for one another.

In 1992 a General Election took place and John Major who had replaced Margaret Thatcher as leader of the Conservative Party was returned to Parliament with a reduced majority. The Labour Party under the leadership of Neil Kinnock gained some 50 to 60 seats, but alas it was the Tories who were elected to govern Britain for the next 5 years.

The British people had to brace themselves to further reductions to their standard of living, more cuts in funding were imposed on the National Health Service, Social and Welfare Services, more redundancies occurred leaving more people at the mercy of the employer. It was during this period that many workers were forced into part time working at very low wages.

Wages Councils and the minimum wage were abolished leaving the British Worker at the bottom of the wages league in comparison with other European Workers. Education and Training funding was cut back which forced Local Authorities to cut teaching staff and increase class sizes in our schools.

1992 saw the ending of Local Authority control of Further Education Colleges, which was to be handed over to the Further Education Council ( FEFC ) which is a Government Quango, Governing bodies at Colleges became Corporations with no elected representation, members were

Page 90 appointed, and because of my previous record of 24years membership of the College Governors I was co-opted onto the Corporation of Salford College.

Previous to the incorporation I was honoured by the College by having a shield bearing my name, it was called The Hankinson Shield and it was given each year to "The Best 2nd Year Student" for BTEC National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering.

After the college became independent a employers organisation was formed known as the College Employers Forum ( CEF ), and Governing Bodies ( Corporations ) who were now employers joined, and as with all privatisation the word rationalization was added to the agenda which meant reducing staff and cutting costs.

The CEF soon introduced new contracts for lecturers and support staff to sign, the new contract was asking them to give up the agreements between management and trade unions which had established good industrial relations for many years. it meant in the case of lecturers they would have to work for longer hours and have their holiday entitlement cut, and if they did not accept the new contacts further increases in salary would be withheld, which would effect their pensions. In spite of these threats college lecturers stood by their union agreements and refused to sign.

This tested my loyalties, and as a member of a trade union I argued and supported the lecturers. I reminded the Governors that over the 24years I had been a member of the Governing body we had excellent industrial relations with members of the staff who had given up spare time to improve training of students,

I argued this goodwill would be seriously disrupted by industrial action by the staff, this unfortunately came true. I put forward positive proposals to the Governors in that we seek local agreements with the unions which would be accepted by the unions and the FEFC as other colleges had done.

This was turned down by the majority of the governors, because the FEFC. with Government backing issued instructions that if any college management made an agreement with the unions that did not come within the guide lines laid down by the CEF. 2% of funding would be withheld from the college budget.

Page 91 This started long running disputes at colleges in England and Wales which included strikes. In 1995 Salford College lecturers embarked on a series of one day strikes which ended in the unions gaining a satisfactory settlement for their members.

At Bolton College where our son Francis is a lecturer a strike took place which lasted 7 weeks. Francis was the treasurer of the union branch at the college it was a bitter dispute, the management insisting that the CEF contracts be accepted and refusing to enter into negotiations. This resulted in picketing, demonstrations and marches throughout Bolton which union members from all over the country took part, financial support from NATHFE. and other union branches throughout the country poured into the strike fund. and the lecturers union made the strike official.

I remember one demonstration which I took part in over £ 3,000 was collected, the demonstration was preceded by a march through Bolton, there was about 1,000 people who took part it ended on the Town Hall Square where speeches in support of the lecturers were made by Gary Titley MEP, The General Secretary of NATHFE the lecturers union, also a member of the Liverpool Dockers who were on strike at the time for refusing to cross picket lines.

My proudest moment of this great and successful demonstration was when my son Francis made a speech from the Town Hall steps which was well received by the crowd. It brought back memories when in the 1970s I made a speech from the same steps when the Engineering Unions staged a strike against the Tory Governments Industrial Relations Act.

At that time I was District President of the Bolton District Amalgamated Engineering Union AEU. The strike lasted 7 weeks and it ended in victory for the lecturers, the outcome was the college management agreed to enter into negotiations, and an agreement was reached which was acceptable to the union.

I have included this in the chapter about Retired Members Associations because the Bolton AEEU RMA forwarded resolutions to the Liverpool Dockers and the Bolton College Lecturers, congratulating them on their decision to take action against reactionary management.

We hoped it would be the start of the long over due fight back against this Tory Governments anti trade union legislation. We also sent financial donations, and we hope that decisions will be taken at the 1996

Page 92 Pensioners Parliament to support the actions of the working class, and bring about Solidarity between Generations which we earnestly desire.

Page 93 Chapter 11.

Rise like lions after slumber In unvanquishable numbers Shake your chains to earth like dew Ye are many they are few. By Percy Shelley.

The Labour Party in the 1990s

After the defeat in the 1992 General Election, Neil Kinnock was replaced by John Smith as leader of the Labour Party, who was classed as a moderate. Under his leadership and the deputy leader Margaret Becket the party was gaining support from the electorate by gaining seats in bye- elections and local government elections.

Unfortunately John Smith died suddenly of an heart attack, and did not witness Labours triumph in the European Parliamentary Elections, when the party won over 60 seats leaving the Tories with only 12 seats.

The death of John Smith was a great loss to the Labour Party although he was on the right politically, lie was a man who recognised that the party was a broad church, and he respected the Socialist ideals of many members on the left, and with that principle he brought about more unity in the party.

After the death of John Smith, the debate took place on who should lead the Labour Party with the media supporting Tony Blair. This of course had its effect on the on the majority of the party members, which resulted in Tony Blair being elected as leader and John Prescott as deputy leader.

Tony Blair and his right wing advisers with the support of the media embarked on a campaign to oust the members of the National Executive of the party who believed in Socialism. Having achieved this a Special Conference was arranged to alter the constitution of the Labour Party to remove Clause 4 from the constitution, this clause was one of the basis of Socialism, which called for the following.

Page 94 To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry, and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange.

The result was, that after a ballot on the basis of one member one vote, the help of the media. Clause 4 was taken out of the constitution of the Labour Party, and replaced with a clause which was less offensive to capitalism and the middle classes.

Therefore under the leadership of Tony Blair, the party has moved away from its traditional base, of socialist principles and the trade union movement, and attempted to make pre-election accommodation with big business. No longer do we hear the word socialism mentioned in speeches from the leaders of the party,

They have given the party a new name, New Labour, telling us that we must accept change, this is something we accept as the years go by, but not going back to the years of millions of people unemployed, and working for low wages as was happening in the 1990s.

Although I am still active inside the party, as Constituency Press Officer my loyalties were beginning to come into question. It has got to a stage, where when the party leader puts forward his key policies it is not to the working people of this country, but to business officials both here and abroad.

The opposition and frustration felt by many people over the headlong retreat from any form of socialist principles or policies by the right wing Labour leaders, has led to the most serious crisis ever to face the labour movement since the Labour party was formed.

Since clause 4 taken out of the constitution, the new rule book allows the party national executive to amend rules and constitution at any time by calling a special conference at which only the executive can submit amendments to the constitution. CLPs, trade unions, and affiliated organisations will have no right to do so.

I feel that the party is slowly being gutted of its democratic accountability, we have a situation at the present time which allows the national executive to over rule democratically elected candidates, because they have socialist beliefs.

Page 95 Also fewer troublesome resolutions at the annual party conference - unless vetted - to be defeated, and at these conferences the annual adoration of the party leader has become one of the highlights. It seems that the potential for the Labour Party to be the vehicle to bring about a balance of wealth and power in our country is almost exhausted.

The issue will be settled at the next election, which New Labour is likely to win because the British capitalist establishment as its best chance of furthering its interests. I earnestly hope this will not be the case, because if would mean that many socialist and trade union activists would be so disillusioned that we would be tempted to join breakaway parties with socialist policies.

There is of course another alternative. That we stay in the party where there are decent socialist MPs, MEPs, and councillors to defend. This as been the dilemma that has been facing socialists during the periods when Labour has governed the country, and adopted policies from the right wing of the party and big business. It is these policies that has lost them elections, and allowed the Tories to govern this country for most of the time since before the second world war.

In 1995 Labour is poised to win the next general election not because its policies are socialist, but because this Tory Government who over the last 15 years that they have been in power have lowered the standard of life for the majority of people. Therefore it is essential that a Labour Government is returned to power.

The next step should be for the left to form a united front against the right wing policies of new Labour by campaigning within the constituencies and unions for a radical change in policies. This is imperative if a Labour Government is to remain in power for more than its first term of office.

Is there a potential for a fight back, the answer must be yes, but not by forming other left socialist parties. We must realise that the Labour Party is seen as the mass party of the working class and can still be won back to socialist principles only when the mass of working people decide that as a fact.

The key to it is the organised labour movement - the trade unions, and we must see our position within that organised section. The trade union movement has over seven million members.

Page 96 At the last Labour Party conference in 1995 over 30 percent of the delegates voted for progressive policies and progressive NEC candidates. Therefore, splits in the left can only weaken this process, no matter how well intentioned.

Above all the links between the party and the trade union movement must be maintained, and any attempt by the right wing of the party to break the links must be resisted, including the hidden agenda of state financial grants for political parties, which would allow the right wing to reduce the influence of the trade unions with the party.

During this period, the majority of leadership of the trade unions has backed the direction which the right wing was taking.

My own union the AEEU Executive Council followed the NEC. of the Labour Party trying to impose a new set of rules without consulting the rank and file membership, which meant the closing of branches, and District Committees, which were elected by the members. Scrapping the rank and file Final Appeal Court and replacing it with union officials appointed by the General Secretary of the TUC.

Also the salaries of our full-time officers which were controlled by the members has now been handed over to the Executive Council who have also taken over the local funds of branches which are used to help members locally who were in distress. This fund was also used to send donations to our members who were on strike, paying affiliation fees to local Trades Council, and our own retired members association etc.

This means that local autonomy and control of the union is being taken over centrally by the full-time Executive Council. These new rules are being opposed by the activists and we are campaigning to urge the members to vote No in the forthcoming ballot.

Also during this period the rank and file workers were beginning to take action against their employers.

The example was set by the 500 Merseyside dockers who were sacked for refusing to cross picket lines. This dispute has won the support not only of the British public, but from Dockers from America, New Zealand, Belgium, Portugal who have refused to unload ships coming from Liverpool.

The dispute has lasted 5 months and the employers have offered them £25,000 each to call off their action and settle on the employers terms,

Page 97 which was that less than 100 Dockers would be taken back and the remainder made redundant.

This was rejected overwhelmingly by secret ballot, the Dockers decision was that they wanted their jobs not just for themselves but for the future generations.

Further disputes were taking place such as the one at JJ Fast Foods where workers had been on strike for 17 weeks because the management had sacked them for joining a trade union. The strike ended with victory for the workers who were all reinstated, and negotiations taking place with the management for trade union recognition.

Also in Liverpool the Fire Fighters are in dispute by engaging in one day strikes against redundancies and cuts in services, and in this same period the 7 week strike took place at Bolton College (which I have referred to previously.)

All these disputes were started by the rank and file members of trade unions, one wonders if this is the start of the fight back by the working people to restore their rights in the workplace, instead of taking on the burden of the failure of capitalism.

On the international front the working people began to show signs that they were disgruntled with the capitalist market economy which was causing unemployment and the lowering the standard of living. In Russia, Poland, and other East European countries. Communist and socialist parties were winning the biggest percentage of votes, and in the European Community unemployment was rising.

Therefore our task in Britain is to get a Labour Government elected, and with the united effort of all progressive organisations force them to bring about the changes that will bring back a fairer and more just society that my generation enjoyed after the 2nd world war.

Remember the Labour Party is not Tony Blair and his spin doctors, and when they are elected we the working people want to see them represent us as the Tories represented their class. We want to end unemployment and poverty in the midst of plenty, and replace it with a fair and just society. We are not militants, but moderates who have risen from their knees.

Page 98 CHAPTER 12

Midst struggle and strife We will find in this life. Something worth while after all.

CONCLUSION.

It was in the period of 1991 to 1993, Mabel’s health began to be effected by emphysema, osteoporosis, and colitis. In 1994, she had a serious set back she spent 7 weeks in hospital nearly dying, fortunately she recovered, which was a great relief tome and all the family.

For the first 5 weeks Mabel was in the emergency ward at Hope Hospital, where she received first class treatment and attention from the Doctors, Nurses, and Staff. I must also express our families thanks and gratitude to Doctor Cleator our family GP for giving Mabel excellent medical attention before and after being in hospital, during her stay in hospital she lost nearly 2 stones in weight and over a period she began slowly to recover but her activity was curtailed and she had to become mobile with the assistance of a wheel chair.

Our children, and grandchildren's families were magnificent in the help they gave us during these difficult times.

Mabel and I are now in our mid 70s, and we reminisce about the wonderful years we have been together, and we wonder how the future generation will cope with the problem of unemployment, and the deprivation it causes. There are millions of people today living on or below the poverty line and are in danger of becoming excluded from the rest of society.

We hear politicians talk about enterprise and stake holder society. What is needed is full employment, housing, training, crime reduction and leisure facilities,

Page 99 Children today are growing up and leaving school without ever seeing their fathers going to work. What we are seeing is the rich are getting richer.

According to Average Treasury figures which show average income for the top 1% of earners before tax and national insurance, is estimated to be going up from £133,000 to £140,000 in 1995 compared with £15,900 to £16,600 for national average earners. These are some of the problems at the present time.

The year 1995 was celebrated in the Labour movement as the 50th anniversary of the Labour Government coming to power after the 2nd world war in 1945. It is only my generation that witnessed the legislation that brought for the people of Britain a more fairer and just society.

Today we have a generation that has grown to adult life during the 16 years of a Conservative Government, and they seem to accept the cuts in their living standards imposed on them by government legislation.

I do realise that the employer has the upper hand with millions of people unemployed, and the governments anti-trade union legislation which have placed the unions at a disadvantage. But this has been allowed to happen by this generation in the 1980s, and 90s.

The unemployed are one of the main problems, the government is using part time working in low pay and unskilled jobs to make people believe that the unemployment problem is being dealt with.

But the Rowntree Foundation on mass unemployment said it posed a challenge to all political parties, businesses and trade unions. It went on to say that the problem could not be overcome without those in work paying for job creation through lower earnings, higher prices or higher taxes.

This redistribution of poverty analysis should be rejected by the labour movement. Mass unemployment can be ended - but only on the basis of an alternative economic and political strategy which sees accumulated wealth and big business profits as the source of the investment required.

The government are certainly going to make the unemployed pay for the present problem by introducing the Job Seekers Allowance ( JSA ), which is an attack on the Employed and Unemployed. JSA. means that unemployment benefit and the period which benefit will be paid is cut from 12 months to 6 months, and those between 18-24 years old will have their benefit reduced by 20%.

Page 100 Women will lose non-means tested benefit. Thousands of sick and disabled people could be left without benefit. JSA. punishes people not having a job under JSA rules, people will have to sign a job seekers agreement and will be expected to take a job at any wage level. Job Seekers Direction will require a claimant to undertake a specific activity to improve their employability.

The Tory Government were also considering altering the employment rights of the people working in small firms and businesses by not allowing workers under the Employment Protection Act to take their employer to an Industrial Tribunal for unfair dismissal.

Such legislation will be used by employers to lower the wages and working conditions of working people. This is in addition to the fact that working people in Britain do not have the rights of a minimum wage. holidays, and to be represented by a trade union, making this country the Sweat Shop of Europe.

On looking back to some of Mabel’s poems I think the following is appropriate. Decent schools for children small Secure work for youth so tall Provision made for loving mums. Pride returned to mothers sons. Homes to help the family thrive. Leisure to keep us all alive. Enough to help us eat our fill. Enough to help pay our bills. Compassion care and understanding. For all those whose life is ending. Security from war torn greed. Peace throughout for every creed. It is appropriate that I end this book with events about myself and family. I am at the age of 77 years still active in the Labour Movement. I am secretary of Walkden AEEU Branch, delegate to Salford TUC, and Press Officer for Worsley Constituency Labour Party, also I am a member of the board of governors at Salford College, and Joseph Easthams High School.

I did have a disappointment with a decision of the AEEU Executive Council when they decided to withdraw legal aid in my case when I was claiming damages against the employer before I retired where I contracted an

Page 101 industrial disease. The way the union solicitor handled the case left a lot to be desired, in 1989 I was awarded 10% by the Department of Social Security because I had contracted a industrial disease known as C23.

This disease effects the bladder and was caused during my employment because I repaired machinery which came from the Bleaching and Dying Industry which was impregnated with chemicals that caused, a cancerous growth in the bladder.

Despite all the evidence proving my employer was negligent for not providing adequate safety protection, such as protective clothing and extraction units etc., the union solicitor with the agreement of the Executive Council AEEU came off the case. This decision was a shock to my family, and to the members of Walkden AEEU branch, who were mindful of the fact that since becoming secretary in 1962.

I had helped members to pursue legal aid which was successful, and totalled over £300,000 in compensation settlements. I also represented members successfully at Industrial, Unemployment Benefit, and Medical Appeal Tribunals

Some members of Walkden AEEU branch thought that because of my socialist beliefs, the majority members of the AEEU Executive Council withheld union sponsored legal aid, there is no proof of this. Of course there has been certain incidents which makes one question this theory.

I can recall one incident which happened when I was a delegate for Worsley Constituency Labour Party to the 1991 Labour Party Conference held in Brighton, a AEEU delegate invited my wife and myself to the AEEU Social Evening. He was told that if he ever again invited me to any function organised by Executive Council his membership of the AEEU delegation to the Labour Party Conference could be in jeopardy. This was admitted by other members of the AEEU delegation.

In spite of this I decided to engage another solicitor to act on my behalf in my claim for damages and negligence against my former employer before I retired. I can now record that a solicitor named Mr A J Mc Loughlin a partner in a firm of Fielding and Porter has so far been able to induce my former employer to offer an out of court settlement, and as I write in 1996 the case is still ongoing.

I must make it clear that I am not decrying the Legal Aid Benefit of the AEEU, because it as been successful in obtaining millions of pounds in

Page 102 damages for its members, and I was reluctant to take the decision which had been forced upon me.

In 1995 Mabel and I celebrated our Golden Wedding, the occasion brought together all our family and friends. We had some wonderful presents given to us, which must have cost many hundreds of pounds. It was a joy to see our children, their wives and husbands, our grandchildren with their families, we have 15 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren with another one expected in the near future.

Mabel and I look back over the 50 years and saying how lucky we are to have such a wonderful family, and we wonder, what kind of world it will be for them and the future generations. Will it be better for them as it was for our generation from 1946 until this present Government came to power in 1979?

At the present time 1996, the children leaving school are worse off than their parents were when they left school. They have a less chance of getting a job, and if they do it is likely to be a part time low paid job.

With less employment protection, and deteriorating Health and Social Services. This is the first time this as happened, in the past the parents always managed to improve life for their children, this is not so at the present time.

In March 1996 Mabel and I went to the European Parliament in Brussels, we were in a party of 35 people invited there by Gary Titley our member of the European Parliament (MEP). We met other MEPs, discussions took place on how the European Union is working.

I am still opposed to its set up, because Parliaments decisions can be vetoed by the unelected Commissioners, also the European unemployment problem of over 18 million is not seriously being tackled.

I realise we are now members, and if we withdrew we would have problems of being isolated. Therefore I think the result of the General Elections will have some bearing concerning the British people.

In May 1996 Mabel and I attended the 2nd Pensioners Parliament which was held in Blackpool. It lasted 3 days we took her electric scooter and we were able to get to the Parliament from our hotel.

Page 103 The Parliament was very successful, with over 2,000 delegates attending. The theme of the proceedings was that as we approach the General Election we warn the incoming government that basic pensions must be maintained and improved to the level of European Pensioners, and not to hand any part of our Welfare Benefits to private provision.

More people are now recognising that universal entitlement is the most socially effective way of delivering services, and decent pensions for all in old age. I was successful in getting the AEEU Retired Members Association resolution included into a composite resolution concerning Solidarity between Generations, which called for Pensioners Organisations to support our younger generation who were taking part in disputes with employers for better wages and working conditions, this resolution was carried unanimously.

We stayed in Blackpool for an extra 2 days and in our mid seventies we enjoyed our stay at the Cliffs Hotel where entertainment in the form of cabaret to suit the younger and older generations was on the agenda every night.

Within days of arriving home another great granddaughter was born, her name is Natasha Jade, she is the daughter of our grandson Andrew and his partner Lisa, they came to visit us the little baby girl is beautiful. Mabel and I are happy at the increase to our family tree , the total now stands at 4 sons, 2 daughters, 15 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren, and of course our sons and daughters in-laws.

Mabel and myself are now approaching our late 70s and we wonder what kind of future will emerge for our family and future generations. We are living in a society created by capitalism which is using the invention of electronic technology to make the rich richer and the ordinary people are being told that we cannot afford money to improve the NHS, Welfare, and Social Services, which have been deteriorating since the Tory Government came to power in 1979.

We are informed that the NHS is in crises, waiting lists are to grow, more wards are to close because of a shortage of cash. It is claimed this is due to pay increases for doctors, and the high cost of drugs resulting in hospitals unable to find money to pay for nurses and provide beds in order to finance hospitals who would be using the doctors and drugs to treat patients.

This is the insane logic of capitalism which John Major the Prime Minister, and Tony Blair the Leader of the Labour Party are committed to continue.

Page 104 When we ask ministers and members of Parliament, (excluding those MPs who have socialist beliefs), why their is a shortage of cash for the NHS, we are told that social security, unemployment bills are to blame.

When we point out that the crises of capitalism is itself responsible for unemployment and poverty which causes the huge expenditure on social security and unemployment benefit, we get no reply. Similarly when we draw attention to the £27,000 million spent each year on armaments, and how the money could be used to revitalise the NHS, education, public transport and scientific research etc.

The exorbitant profits of the military industries and the drug companies are never mentioned by the government and its apologists in or out of Parliament. Also the high salaries of £85,000 the NHS trusts pay their executives, for working two to three days a week. No doubt these people concur in the government plans to increase the waiting lists for old people and children who urgently need operations but cannot afford to go to private hospitals.

Is this the Caring Society that we leave for our children and the future generations.

As I write this Mabel is playing the organ down stairs, the tune she is playing is. "When I grow too old to dream".

Yes, in 1945 when we got married we dreamed of a future that was free from poverty, a society that cared for people and we thought a start was being made by the election of a Labour Government. But this was not to be because ordinary people became affluent buying council houses at give away prices. This helped the Tories to govern from 1979 to 1996 when many traditional Labour voters living on council estates changed their vote.

Unfortunately unemployment increased in this period, forcing people to fall behind in their mortgage payments, this meant for some people that their homes were repossessed by the Banks and Building Societies.

Also during this period Local Councils were restrained from building houses to rent, forcing the younger generation into the housing market leaving them in debt with heavy mortgages which they were unable to pay and they to had their homes repossessed. This and unemployment led to many people in our towns and cities living rough on the streets.

Page 105 The title of this book poses the question "WAS IT WORTH IT", I leave the reader to answer that question!. My response to that question is to have a nostalgic look back at my life.

From childhood to teenager I was blessed with having good parents and relatives, and at an early age of fourteen I began to realise the difference between wealth and poverty not with any sense of jealousy, but of the awareness of the causes that brought it about, and of course my fathers interest in the philosophy of socialism.

This is not to construe that I did not have any of the interests in sporting activity. I played football, tennis and cricket etc. Cricket was the game I was best at, I played for local teams in the Bolton Association Leagues which are considered to be in the top class in league cricket, and when the second world war was over I continued to play cricket for teams in the North West.

Therefore I did enjoy myself in spite of my interests in the Labour and Trade Union movement.

As I became older my time was being taken up more with political and trade union activity and our family was increasing I gave up playing cricket. This gave me more time to get involved in activities in trying to better the living standards of ordinary working class people.

As I look back at my life I have been blessed with having a loving wife and a wonderful mother of our six children and their wives and husbands who have given Mabel and myself their love and caring throughout our family life. Also I have received their full support for my Labour and Trade Union activities except when sometimes they told me off for spending to much time at meetings etc.

This of course is one of the faults of being involved in this kind of activity and they realised this situation because when I lost cases they stood by me and when I won cases they were proud of me, and as I come to the conclusion of this biography I can say. YES it was worth it. Other people certainly thought it was. As the next picture shows!

Page 106 Frank Hankinson receives his M.B.E. from H.M. Queen Elizabeth II For services to labour relations But I must say to the younger generations. "Dream your Dreams and may they all come true". This will only happen if you are prepared to fight for them and help other people, and not stand aside in self interest or complacency.

Mabel and I, although we are in our period of old age we are ready to give our full support to the younger generation. We will “keep right on to the end of the road". Although the roads be long, we will keep right on to the end.

My thanks to all my friends and comrades who I had the pleasure to be associated with during my happy and eventful life.

I end the story of my life as a Socialist Agitator with the words of Berthold Lubetkin a Russian Socialist.

As long as man in the street can be made to believe that we are helpless in controlling our fate, and we are at the mercy of forces inaccessible to reason, our art will faithfully reflect the tension of unresolved conflicts a purposeless age of chronic unemployment, traffic jams atomic fall outs and inflation.

Page 107 EPILOGUE

Since ending this book, and re-reading the chapters at the age of 80 yrs., and looking at some of the predictions I made.

Yes we have a Labour government, who, when elected, said that for the first 2 yrs. They would carry out the out-going Tory governments' policy on spending, and begged their supporters to bear with them for that period.

Many Labour supporters decided they would give them this period.

As I conclude this epilogue, some positive things have been introduced.

Such as the legislation on the Minimum Wage at £3.60p.per hour, which is too low, but the principle of the Minimum Wage has been established.

Fairness at Work, which gives the working people more protection More money for the N. H. S. and Education.

But they have failed to tackle the plight of pensioners, by not aligning Pension Increases to Wage Increases.

They have not tackled the Traffic Problems and Re- regulated Public Transport, which is essential if our roads do not become grid-locked.

THE END

Page 108

Page 109 SPRING

Nature’s golden trumpets sounding, Heralding the call of spring, Pouring love and hope and beauty, Into every living thing. Daffodil and Crocus racing, To be first on the scene, Spread the canvas o’er with colour, Gold and purple, white and green.

Then the gnarled and twisted branches, Burst forth into beauteous sight, Newborn leaves of pale green clustering, Afraid to open to the light. Soon the pale Sun works its wonders, Coaxing plants alive once more, With fine rain to wash the earth, From each new plant whose sleep is o’er.

The picture topped with blues so clear, Of skies, their miracles performing, After fine and fleeting rainstorms, Coloured arcs will soon be forming. Stretching o’er this wondrous scene, Creating Love and Understanding, To form the most exciting painting, That our eyes have ever seen.

Soon the children will be playing, in the fields of daisies fair, Watching newborn lambs a galloping, Guarding them with every care. Then returning home to Mother, Full of wondrous tales to tell, Of Nature’s gift of loveliness, To creature, plant and man as well.

Page 110 SUMMER

As we wake on summer’s morning, With the rays of Sun aglow, Stealing through the bedroom curtains, Shafts of gold, their brilliance show. There’s no time to lay a sleeping, We must soak up all its warmth. Out of bed as quick as lightning, Clothe ourselves in flimsy gear, Making sure we catch enough Sun, Just to last us through the year.

As we lie on beach or garden, Toasting brown or wet with brine, We write to neighbours, That we are having such a lovely time. “The food is good, the hotel’s fine”, We shoot them such a dreadful line, When truth to tell, if we were honest, To be back home would be the best.

When we’re back home, from our travels, Work in the garden takes us o’er. Grass just grows as we sit resting, Weeds appear at blink of eye, Walls need painting, roof needs fixing, Don’t we sit and heave a sigh. If this is summer give us winter, When the plants begin to die.

‘then we look around the garden, See the Roses’ brilliant hue. Hear the little children laughing, Playing in the paddling pool. Nature knew what she was doing, When she created all these things.

Page 111 AUTUMN

See the leaves their mantles changing, From the fresh and verdant hue, Into sun-drenched gold and sepia, Warning us tat summer’s through. As they dry and scatter earthwards, Leaving gnarled and twisted bough, Winds increasing in their fury, Scatter them o’er fields and plough.

Te leaves appear in street and garden, As if produced by magic force, Bold winter steals into the picture, Pressing on his freezing course. Soon the skies increased in darkness, Shed their load of beauty bright, Virgin stars of fluff and feather, Eastwards falls in shimmering flight.

Hiding all the earth beneath, In the carpet thick of wondrous white, Now’s the time for children playing. Muffled warm in scarf so tight. Slipping, sliding, running, screaming, Throwing balls of glistening snow. Soon exhausted in their labours, Trotting home with cheeks aglow.

Page 112 WINTER

Now the trees are shedding branches, As the autumn winds increase, Making way for winter’s fury, Shattering our earthly peace. Swaying branches crack and quiver, As the wind screams round the bough. Fluttering birds escape the torment, Under eaves they now lie low.

Now their ceaseless trillings ended, As they hide in sheltered nest, Whispering and softly scratching, As they prepare for winter’s rest. Soon the cold and rain increases And the dark nights swiftly grow, Making home the sweetest haven, For each weary soul to go.

Black and grey, the sky is looming, Yellow tinged, and full of snow, Rain is sleeting, blinding, stinging, As we bend into its flow. Then at night the frost comes hovering, Tinting hedges, pathways, white. Causing rain to freeze beneath us, To send us slipping in our plight.

When the snow begins to scatter, Deep and treacherous, in the fields, And early lambs are cruelly buried. We think that winter is so wicked, Why ever was it sent at all? And then we realise that Nature, Wise in all her wondrous ways, Is killing germs that lurk since summer, Making sterile, Earth’s highways.

Page 113 THE WINDOW OF TIME

Gazing through the bedroom window, Peering upwards to the sky, Dwelling on the days now fleeting, Dreaming of the days gone by.

Memories come flooding backwards, When, as a little child, I’d play, Heedless of a whole world’s troubles, Singing, laughing every day.

Then at school came realisation, That I was different from the rest, Then alas came desolation, No parents came to view my test.

Being young when mother passed on, Father working all he could, Just to keep his children happy, Just to keep his children good.

Sure enough his wish was granted, We all married happily, Though in different towns we settled, A bond was kept most readily.

Sons and daughters now have left us, Now they too have tied the knot, Now they too have children, We’re so lucky with our lot.

Six fine grandsons, four sweet granddaughters, Is surely being blessed with luck, But still three more are now expected, Please God; He’ll bless them all with luck.

My husband dear and I grow older, As our days go racing by, But we face them all with laughter,

Page 114 And maybe, now and then, a sigh.

Page 115 GENESIS

Borne on wings of milk-white swan, Swift transported heaven-wards, Seeking out his beauteous mate, In her sweet and natural state.

Waiting, patient, longing for him, Ever searching moonlit skies, ‘Till the night when prayers are answered, Gazes in his love-filled eyes.

Man must ever seek his partner, Whether near or far away, Casting off all wide temptations, Hope against hope for love to stay.

Page 116 LIFE’S WORK

When time and tide engulf you, And begs for soul to give, What rights have you to ponder, Why you alone should live?

What use of life have you made? What love and care displayed? Have you done all you could do? And have you ever prayed?

When troubles have befell you, And touched your young ones too, Have you just helped them through it, Or given guidance too?

And can you say you’ve cared, For family and friends? Have you respected secrets, And tied up all loose ends?

If you can answer truthfully, That all these tasks you’ve done, Why then, my friend, whatever else, The love of God you’ve won.

Page 117 MY DAILY PRAYER

Decent schools for children small, Secure work for youth so tall, Provision made for loving mums, Pride returned to mothers’ sons.

Homes to help the family thrive, Leisure to keep us all alive, Enough to help us eat our fill, Enough to help us pay our bills.

Compassion, care and understanding, For all those whose life is ending, Security from war-tom greed, Peace throughout for every creed.

Page 118 BEGIN AGAIN

This world of ours is complex, the people mostly mad, To think that all that’s needed, is war and measures bad.

When children can be starving for food and love and care How can those elder statesmen, secure in greed and wealth, Know what is good for working men, and what is best fix health.

To plan and scheme for holocaust to devastate us all, Is surely hard to understand, why did we live at all. When all that’s really needed is compassion, love and care, Why don’t we make a fresh start, and ruin it who dare.

Page 119 THE WORK OF MAN

Each man has his plot of land, Each his family to plan. One would make his fortune easy, One would find it hard to live. The rich one would not wish to share, The poor one all his heart will give.

So many people have no choice, Their hopes are non-existent. They have no homes, or food, or care, And wish that life would leave them. Though money spent on bombs and guns, Could easily relieve them.

This is perhaps the country’s aim, To plunge us into strife, To injure, kill and cruelly maim, And finally to take our life. Why else should they consider using, Bombs that flesh and blood are fusing?

There’s misery around the world. Children’s mouths alive with flies, And stomachs bursting at the seams, Through lack of food and sanitation. Showing through their desperate eyes, Yearning for help to end their plight.

It’s futile to say this is God’s will, More like the Devil’s work. And so as neither one exists, Make it the Work of Man, To create a better world, Where all men shall be equal.

Page 120 HOLD MY HAND

Tell me now, What could be sweeter, Than the children in the choir? Trilling out their heartfelt message, Hopes, with breath, aspiring higher, With messages of peace and friendship. Words created from the heart, Making all far-seeing people, That everyone should take part.

“Hold my hand”, the words entreat us, Whether yellow, black of white, Surely this was God’s own message, Surely we can see it’s right. Shining, hopeful, pretty faces, Singing out so joyfully, Must not ever be let down. Keep this trust, I do entreat you, Let them grow up happily, Trusting in the sense of elders, To create a world of peace.

Page 121 IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP

See the sky softly converging, Glittering lanterns hanging high, Shimmering wavelets softly playing, Round the prow as surf goes by. Silence now engulfs the scene, As the moon spreads silver shroud, Making contrast with the blackness, Of the billowing, blustering cloud.

Not a sign of mother vessel, Or of fighting clawing throng, As they realised their sad plight, When the sailor clanged the gong. Each one was so steeped in pleasure, With their dancing, cards or love, None gave thought to lingering mine, Seeking victims from above.

Suddenly with dreadful blast, Wood and metal skywards cast, Bodies too, not known as such, Returned to sea and sunk so fast. Then the screams soon rent the air, As survivors struggled free, From shattered ship so quickly dying, Tilting downwards to the lee.

As it disappeared from sight, With hissing, gurgling, gasping fight, Men and women, screaming, fighting, Fell or jumped in lifeboat, raft. Anything to bear them homewards, From this spent and useless craft Often being pushed from deck-side, Into swirling, inky mass.

Page 122 Now as peace descends upon them, And the boat rocks them to sleep, Wrapped in oilskins safely hidden, Hopeful of some life to keep. Moon and stars look on with horror, Soon they’ll fade away and die. But they’ll appear again tomorrow, Not so the victims-deep they’ll lie.

As survivors wake at dawning, Look around for friends of ore, Sadly realise with horror, They will meet again no more. Wondering what their fate will be, They panic, pray and weep their share, Puffing all their faith and longing, Into God’s Almighty care.

After days of ceaseless drifting, Most of food and water spent, Smoke appearing on the horizon, Seems like an illusion, Heaven sent. As the ship bears down upon them, And they realise the truth. Cracked and weather-beaten faces, Burst in tears and sob so deep.

They, at least, have reached safe harbour, They at least, have thwarted death, But will they ever think of others, With cries for help from their last breath. Yes, I think they’ll help the needy, For they, too, have reached Death’s door, But as it safely clanged before them, Vowed to care for evermore.

Page 123 DREAMS OF THE FUTURE

Let us take a speck of feeling; let us temper it with love, Lets see if care and compassion makes the world we’re dreaming of

Somehow, thinking of our fellows, that our hopes will come alive, But they’re too steeped in personal greed, and couldn’t care for what we strive.

They don’t notice people starving; they can’t see the cardboard streets, All they think about is wealth, ‘though poor are trampled ‘neath their feet.

It’s no use praying to ‘Our Father’ he has seen more than we know, And he’s done nothing about it, so we must act here, down below.

Our first job is to love our neighbour, whatever colour face or creeds, Make us equal in possessions, use our wealth for all our needs.

When this dream has reached fruition, and our sorrows settled down, Make for us life worth living, without the threat of nuclear dawn.

Page 124 The next section was written by my father during the intervening years from his first book, Was It Worth It, and his death.

Due his sudden death in January 2003, he was unable to both finish the document and to print a draft copy of the 80, or so, pages which he had completed.

The majority of the pages were overwritten on his computer and I have, as a result, only been able to retrieve the pages which are printed under the heading ‘Time Marches On’.

Those pages are reproduced as they were written, and I make no apology for their incompleteness. The following pages may not be of interest to those outside of our immediate family, but his thoughts on current affairs and some recent historical events make interesting reading.

It is plain to see, on reading this section, that my father deeply missed my mother and I am sure that it brought him solace to have his family gathered around him during the 50 weeks he had to wait before he could join her.

© Alan Hankinson 2003

Page 125 Time Marches On.

By Frank Hankinson. —————————————-

Page 126 INTRODUCTION.

I have set this book out in three parts as follows “The Family.” Which gives the readers my happiness of this wonderful family of ours, also memories of the childhood of Mabel and myself. It shows the joy of having all our sons, daughters and their families around us, the total amounts to forty six at the time I began writing in the year 2000 we all keeping well. of course Mabel and myself were now in our 80s all the family are there to keep an eye on us, but in November Mabel fell and fractured her hip and was taken to hospital where she had a operation to have a steel pin placed in her hip, while she was there she developed pneumonia she was very poorly and had to spend seven weeks in hospital before she came home in January 2001, once again the family rallied round and with the help and assistance from us all we managed to start to increase her weight from under 5 stone to over 6 stone by December.

Unfortunately in July my sister Mary died of cancer which she had been fighting for three years, she was a wonderful and lovely sister and along with husband Norman and daughter Marjorie we all were saddened losing one of our family.

In December Mabel and myself went to Francis and Margaret!s for our Christmas dinner all their families were there and we had a wonderful time. Mabel was in in good form playing with the greatgrandchildren. Masie our tenth great-granddaughter had been born in September and it was great to see Mabel enjoying herself after her long and painful illness.

But alas this was the last Christmas Mabel was to be with us, she had fall and fractured her knee and went in hospital on the 24 January and died on the 27 January 2002.

Because of my grief at the loss of my dear Mabel I did not want to carry on writing, but with the help and comfort I received from the family I was encouraged to continue. I have purposely decided to

Page 127 record my concern of the way that the undeveloped countries are being sidelined,these countries need help from the rich countries.

I have given my opinions on the subjects of capitalism and socialism, also I have expressed my concern about the threat of war with Iraq it seems that new Labour as taken on the roll to be a major arbiter of global affairs this is not possible without riding pillion to the United States, who believes that might is right, that the end justifies the means and that the UN charter is more honoured in breach than in the observance. It is a democracy that refuses to subject itself or its citizens to international law by refusing to have anything to do with the International Criminal Court. In Britain the Attorney General and the Solicitor General have warned the Prime Minister that his support for George W Bush in this war in the Middle East is against international law. I have observed quotations in Chapter 9 on page 34 from speeches made by Fidel Castro the President of Cuba in 1992 and echoed made by Thabo Mabeki President of South Africa when he opened the Earth Summit Conference in Johannesburg in August 2002.

I end this section with my own observation of the present situations. There is a general decline in manners and respect towards other members of society. The Market as a measure of all worth is seeping in every pore of society. The market mentality has moved beyond areas of contestation into health, education old age, culture, relationships, morality, personal behaviour and childhood etc. This is a recipe of dark times ahead .

My own view of the present situations. A decline in political awareness discussed some 10 years ago but a process which has gone much further and a culture devoid of meaning this is a recipe of dark times ahead. The market as the measure of all worth is seeping into every part of society. In Britain the has been a decline in manners and respect towards other members of society, anything goes inpursuit of ones own needs.

Page 128 DEDICATION.

I Dedicate this book to my dear and loving wife Mabel, who departed from this world in January 2002. She was my inspiration of all that I have achieved during the 57 years of a happy married life. I miss her very much.

Night and day you are the one, In the roaring traffic boom. In the silence of my lonely room, I think of you. Night and day. Day and night.

I also hope that our sons, daughters, spouses grandchildren and great-grandchildren will have a happy and fruitful life and be spared the horrors of war and live in peace with all peoples of the world.

On behalf of Mabel and myself .Thank you for all the happiness you all have given us throughout our lives. XX.

Page 129 2001. Our Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

Since starting the previous book in 1996 our family has increased Mabel and myself have 9 greatgrand children. The family trees are.

Grandchild Great Grandchildren Deborah Rebecca Thomas, Mathew, Georgia Daren Rhian, Lucy. Lynda Jessica, Hanah, Dominic. Andrew Natasha. Julie

Julie the daughter of our eldest son Francis and his wife Margaret is expecting her first child she married Ian in June 2000, Lynda Julies elder sister married Steve in 1999, they are both grand lads and have the makings of good husbands and fathers.

Deborah and David are good parents to their three children. Darren married Heidi in 1999, they too are good parents, both Deborah and Darren are the children of Alan our third son and his wife Edna.

Andrew the second son of our eldest daughter Susan and Graham and his partner Lisa are the parents of Natasha and they all love her dearly

The remaining grandchildren are listed below

Jennifer and Elizabeth parents Francis and Margaret and Victoria the eldest daughter of Cathryn and Barry received excellent results in their GCSE exams and are students at a 6th Form College, their age is 17 and are lovely young ladies, Suzanne the younger sister of Victoria is still going to secondary school. All four of these young ladies have been highly placed in the European Disco Dance Championships.

Page 130 Graham Jnr the eldest son of Susan and Graham works for the Postal Services. Stephen the youngest son who works in the Bakery at Tescos, both fine young men, Stephen is engaged to Victoria who is a supervisor at Tescos.

Carl who is a computer technician he is engaged to Kelly who is employed at the same company he is the son of Brian our 4th son and his wife Julie. Clare their daughter is 17 and is sitting her GCSE exams she too is a lovely young lady.

We also have another lovely granddaughter Diane she is 24, and a fine young man our grandson Daniel who is 22. their parents are David our second son and Lyn.

Page 131 Sons and Daughters.

The incoming millennium brought Mabel and myself into our 80s, and we had some problems.

In March 2000 I fractured my knee cap and was in hospital for 10 days, and in November Mabel fell and broke her hip and after the operation she developed pneumonia and was very poorly she was in hospital for 8 weeks Iam happy to write that she is recovering although the Social Services provide a Carer and the District Nurse also visits. This was not the end of our problems. In May 2001 my injured knee which was weak after my accident gave way and I fell and fractured my leg.

During this period of incapacity Our sons and daughters their wives and husbands and granddaughters were magnificent in the loving care and attention they gave us, they cooked our meals, cleaned the house and did the shopping etc. To them we give our love and gratitude.

Since I began writing Book 1 in the early 90s I will give an update of the progress of our 4 sons and two daughters.

Francis is now a director providing training for young people to provide them with qualifications, he is Chairman of the governing body at Joseph Eastham High School and Chair of the temporary governors that is overseeing the merger of Joseph Eastham and Little Hulton Community school which is taking place in September 2001. Margaret his wife who has been magnificent helping us during our injuries and illness, she is employed as a cook at St Anne's Hospice at Little Hulton. Francis, Margaret, their Daughters, Lynda, Julie and the twins Jennifer and Elizabeth have all done a magnificent job looking to our needs.

David who is employed as a electronic engineer commissioning machinery in Britain and overseas, including Czechoslovakia, Mexico and China, he lives with us, he has a daughter Diane aged 24 and a son Daniel aged 22, he visits them regulary. Diane is a lovely

Page 132 young lady she is interested and involved in religion and helping people, she visits us on occasions and is very welcome, Daniel interest is computer and plays snooker. David also is a good help to Mabel and myself in our old age.

Alan and his wife Edna, They live in Farnworth they are kind, loving and help us both. Alan is employed as computer technician in a bakery, Edna is also employed by the same company in one of their shops. When they were married the reception was held in a tied cottage where they lived at Salford Road Over Hulton, the cottage was owned by the brewery and was attached to the Red Lion Hotel. Mabel did the catering and my father came later in the evening.

Alan and Edna gave us our first granddaughter Deborah, and our first grandson Darren he was christened on the day when 250,000 trade unionists took part in a march in London protesting against the anti trade union legislation brought in by the Tory Government, this was the start of oppressing the trade union movement

Page 133 Poor countries should be allowed to abandon economic adjustment programmes they were forced to adopt in the 1990s by the International Monitory Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

Countries must shift from Adjustment-Oriented poverty reduction strategies . It adds that widespread poverty in the least developed countries could be cut by two-thirds in the next 15 years if the right policies were adopted.

A world gathering at Geneva under the heading of “The World Day Against Child Labour” by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) reported that. More than 350 million Children around the world are engaged in work. One in six children between the ages of 5 to 17, 246 million, are engaged in child labour which should be abolished according to the ILO.

However a shocking number of children are engaged in hazardous work in construction, mining, or in work exposing them to chemicals or other conditions likely to harm them because of the hours or their age. Of these over 100 million are under 15 whom the ILO says should be taken out of such work immediately.

For the first time those campaigning against child labour have recognised that short term solutions may have to be different from long term ones.It may not be possible to remove children from work immediately but their conditions could be improved combining their work with education while aiming to provide higher adult wages in the long term so that children do not have to work at all.

Compulsory schooling not only removes children from physical work environment in which they may exploited but gives them skills to contribute to their country’s economic growth and break the cycle of poverty.

As I write this chapter I am proud to report that our son Francis is going to South Africa with six of his colleagues from their Partners in the Community organisation in which he his the project director. They will go to Tiki-Tiki a desperately poor village in the Eastern

Page 134 Cape, where they will work at Geisa Secondary and Tiki-Tiki Junior Secondary constructing classrooms, painting, replacing broken windows, concreting paths and repairing broken furniture, at the same time they will be teaching the native children the basic skills in carpentry, bricklaying and painting and decorating.

About 40 African children and their teachers will be involved in the project and the hope of the venture is that the children will pick up the skills which they will need in the future and the six volunteers hope it will be a start of a long term project.

My late wife who was concerned and upset when she used to see the suffering of children in the underdeveloped countries on television and on occasions we sent donations to help to ease the suffering of the children, she would have been proud of her son. We also have other members of the family who were involved in work in the African Continent, our son David worked in Zambia for 3 years and his daughter Diane went to Ghana recently to help the poor people, our granddaughter Jennifer has written a essay about Nelson Mandela and apartheid in South Africa. We are proud of them all.

Page 135 World Capitalism V World Socialism.

(World Capitalism) Has been in existence for hundreds of years. The headlines in the media, such as the Guardian and the Sunday Times “Capital Isn’t Working and “Is Capitalism Sick.”

The opponents of Socialism are very vocal about the failure of socialism, but they say very little about the failure of Capitalism in Africa. Over 90 percent of people in the African continent live out their wretched and repressed lives in stagnated and declining capitalist-orientated economies.

International capital to which most of these countries are mortgaged, regards cheap bread, free education and full employment as economic crimes. The revenue of the richest capitalist nations in 1960 was 37 times greater than that of the poorest, is now in 2002, is 74 times larger. The poor countries should not be blamed for this tragedy. They neither conquered or plundered entire continents, nor did they establish colonialism. Nor is re-established slavery in this modern imperialism of their making.

In Britain we are now seeing the effects of the recent fraud scandals on the stock markets in America which have sent share prices tumbling and people with private pensions are learning the truth in their old age that “Falling stock markets in a Capitalist Economy can seriously damage your final pension expectancy.” The only way in my opinion to safeguard your final pension salary is for a properly funded universal pension scheme linked to earnings. Also we are now seeing the effects of privatisation of our services such as British Industry and Public Services.

We have the ailing British Telecom which recently wound up its final pension salary-scheme for ordinary workers, but somehow managed to find a few million to top up a former chief executive Sir Peter Bonfields already vast pension by £2,000 week, he left British Telecom and took a years salary £822,000 and a bonus of £615,000 as a mark of respect of one of the most disastrous privatisation's of modern times.

Page 136 These companies and individuals are letting down the system argues Hank Paulson chief executive of Goldman Sachs speaking at a meeting at the National Press Club in Washington he went on to say that they are giving capitalism a bad name. I have listed the other aspects of privatisation and what it has meant for the NHS and our Rail System.

I will now deal with Britain's Coal Industry, which is now privatised and owned by UK Coal who have decided to close down the Selby “Super Pit” complex in Yorkshire this is industrial sabotage. Closure is not dictated by the lack of market for coal. That market exists but is being filled by imports where the price is either subsidised by government investment or cheap labour. For years coal has been undermined by government preferences for nuclear power and natural gas and pits have closed as a result.

This is despite the fact British Nuclear Fuels have recorded a annual loss of £2 billion and North Sea gas stocks have a limited duration. Their is millions of tons of coal underground in Britain. The problem is when a pit is closed, it can!t simply be re-opened when the demand for coal is needed, the pit becomes unusable because of the geological pressures, flooding and other problems. That is the principal reason why there should be public ownership of the coal industry, so that this vital resource is not subject to short term profitability considerations.

Incidentally I must comment on the heroic struggle the miners waged during the 1980s and I pay tribute to the miners leaders namely Arthur Scargill President and Peter Heathfield Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). It was during the 1980s that the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the Tory Government were responsible for the anti- working class policies. In 1984 they decided to close mines which would bring hardship and degradation to the mining areas throughout Britain.

This led to the miners taking strike action the strike lasted for 12 months and the miners and their families suffered great hardships.

Page 137 During and after the strike Arthur Scargill and Peter Heathfield were subject to a scurrilous smear campaign by the Daily Mirror and the majority of the British media. which made them targets for the MI5. In May 2002 Roy Greenslade who was the editor of the Mirror at the time of the smears gave a soul cleansing apology to both Mr Scargill and Mr Heathfield in a letter to the Guardian .

Mr Greenslade now confesses that Mr Scargill is a wronged man and that he has been wronged by the press in general by the Daily Mirror specifically and since I was its editor by me”, Both Mr Heathfield and Mr Scargill have waged long battles to clear the names, having been accused of using miners hardship money for the own purposes and in Mr Heathfields case to pay for an extension to his house and in Mr Scargills case to pay off a mortgage they never had.

The media then so keen to repeat the smears run by the Daily Mirror which was known as “Operation Cyclops”, are now conducting a conspiracy of silence in respect of Mr Greenslade!s belated apology. Labour MP’s including leader Neil Kinnock who called for public inquiry at the time of the smears, are now conspicuously silent.

The culmination of the long campaign to clear their names came with the “humiliation” of the NUM former chief executive Roger Windsor in the French courts. This was the man who was paid thousands of pounds when he made the allegations to the Daily Mirror. Mr Greenslade has called for the widest possible audience for the culmination of of a deplorable saga The miners their families as well as their union as well as its leadership fought an heroic battle throughout the 1980s against the vicious anti-working class policies of the Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

I am including this as part of history which will reveal the actual extent of the states involvement, but the shocking truth is that the coal industry and its workforce have all but disappeared, but the unprincipled journalists who share the responsibility for the lies and smears against the trade union their leaders and members always remain on hand to do the capitalist systems bidding.

Page 138 Therefore the answer to the question. ”Is Capitalism Sick” . The answer is yes its sickness is terminal and urgently needs replacing by Socialism. I suppose readers will be asking the question “ Has Socialism Failed “. I suppose the question asked will be “Why the failure of socialism in the Soviet Union”.

My comment is the vision of socialism that Lenin left when he died was betrayed by his successors, although the Soviet Union was alone in a capitalist world which placed severe trade and financial restrictions and they suffered tremendously in the second world war over twenty million dead, millions of cities, towns and villages destroyed, in spite of this they defeated the full might of the German Army, but after the war the government tried to embrace the capitalist market economy which left the millions of Russian people unemployed and living in poverty.

The Financial Times pundit John Lloyd wrote. The former Communist countries face a tough transition, turning their economies towards the market they must now inflict great pain upon their citizens. Their is no alternative”. The more they wish to succeed, the more painthey must inflict. And when they get established in the promised land of the capitalist market, does the pain go away. Not at all. Joe Slovo the Communist member of the Nelson Mandela Government wrote “The way forward for the whole of humanity lies within a Socialist framework guided by genuine Socialist humanitarianism and not within the a capitalist system which entrenches economic and social inequalities as a way of life.

“ My view is that World capitalism and monopolies have been in existence for 100s of years. Their has never been World Socialism.

Now.Capitalism with American support and not with United Nations support is planning a war with Iraq. The US president as his mind set on a invasion of Iraq and to replace Saddam Hussein with someone more acceptable to US imperialism. In fact the Iraqi Dictator poses no threat to to US imperialism, he is its creation and was its favoured regional son. The Iraqi Dictator is not anti- imperialist.

Page 139 His military blows have been directed against the Iraqi people and Arab and Iranian neighbours. the day of his downfall will be the dawn of liberation for the people of Iraq but only if they themselves bring about his downfall and not by the invasion of US forces.

The intention to invade has two linked justifications US determination to control Iraq’s oil and to crush any regime any where in the world that appears to challenge US political and military domination for the cause of world capitalism.

I now want to change the subject. Because a survey of a report published today on the 29 July 2002 by Reed co UK, which says that only 39% of male employees take their full holiday entitlements. When I was employed in the engineering industry I was a shop steward 18 years until I retired in 1984. We had a agreement with our employer that a employee had to take his full holiday entitlement.

The survey by Reed co UK. Quote. “ Less than half the nations workers take their full holiday entitlement even though they have the lowest holiday entitlement in the European Union. British workers have a right to 20 days leave a year 11 days less than the average for the EU countries. Britain tops the table when it comes to the number of hours a week an employee is required to work up to 48 compared with France 35.” Unquote.

Britain has lower productivity than other workers in EU countries who have higher holiday entitlements and fewer working hours. It is time the employers and the unions came together and insisted that British workers take their full holiday entitlement. The survey also says. Quote. “ No matter how pressured work becomes, it is time for British bosses to realise that they are losing out if they do not encourage their employees to take all their holidays.

In the survey 64% of workers said they felt more productive when they returned from holiday. Holidays also increase creativity, more than three quarters of workers said they had their best ideas for work either on holiday or immediately getting back. Nevertheless, more

Page 140 employers - 56% apparently do not insist that their staff use their full holiday entitlement.” Unquote.

I must remind the British workers of today. That we fought for the the right for more holidays and shorter working week to give us the same working conditions as our European counterparts and not to have less holidays and work longer hours. Remember you are handing this legacy of being the workers who work the longest hours and have the least holidays to our future generations. and becoming “The Slaves of Europe.”

In this chapter I am concerned about racism being introduced by political parties under the subject of immigration and asylum seekers which the far-right British National Party is using to gain support from the people of this country.

My understanding on this issue is that Britain is bound by international agreements concerning people fleeing torture and political persecution to grant them asylum, but at the present time some British people are pandering to the worst elements in the press with the disgraceful examples of rumours which far-right political parties seize onto and preach racism which unfortunately certain members of the public emulate and hand down to their children

I often wonder if these people who preach racism think back to their ancestors who gave their lives fighting the worst racist organisation namely the Nazi Party of Germany who were responsible of murdering millions of men, women and children in concentration camps because they did not come up to the required standards of the white master race of Germany. I am happy and proud that I have a family that do not believe in racial hatred.

One of the greatest fighters against racism and apartheid was Nelson Mandela for his beliefs that all people irrespective of colour was sent to prison on Robben Island and after 27 years he was released and became the President of South Africa. I am proud to include two items written by my grand-daughter on Racism and Arparthied. when she was attending school and college.

Page 141 I think Nelson Mandela was one of the most dedicated men in my lifetime he was a dedicated champion of human rights. He became the first black Prime Minister of South Africa and with his election the oppression of South Africa!s black majority was coming to an end. I have had the pleasure of reading his biography “Mandela by Anthony Sampson”. and below are some of the items from the biography.

Quote. His personal leadership was decisive. He took his most central decision to propose talks with the South African Government he took it alone which was probably right. Without Mandela. South African history would have taken a different turn. He had moral authority and concern for the truth as a rock of continuity in a dis continuous world. Through his three decades in jail he had remained true to his principals and beliefs when most politicians in most countries were becoming opportunists. But his loyalty to his own principals and friends gave him the edge over other world leaders who had forgotten what they stood for.

As head of state he saw a clear priority to consolidate South Africa to a multi-racial democracy. He had worked closely with white South Africans Indian and Afrikaners, with all this he was able to establish a !Rainbow Cabinet! which was one of the few genuinely Multi- Racial Governments in the world. In his life he had seen the creation of democracy which South Africans had been excluded. Unquote.

He was a great man and I am privileged to have lived during his lifetime.

The following pages are “A Victim of Prejudice” and a sumanary of the book “Mandela” by Jen Hankinson.

I have already listed Nelson Mandela. I was born in 1919 during the time of the Russian Revolution.1917 to 1921 of course I was to young to understand the events that took place in that period but as I became older I began to read books about Socialism and Marxism

Page 142 and in a book “The Soviet Achievement” by JP NETTL I learned about Vladimir Ilich Lenin who formed the Bolshevik Party in Russia in 1917 he became leader and theoretical inspirer of the October Revolution in Russia.

Lenin like Mandela spent many years in prison and in exile for his beliefs. He was a believer in the cause of Socialism and Marxism, during the first World War 1914-1918 he was in Exile in Switzerland and in 1917 the Germans allowed him to travel through their lines to Russia so that he could lead the revolution which was beginning and the Germans believed that this would ease the pressure on their armies on the Eastern Front so they could transfer troops to the Western Front.

The Russian Army was ill equipped and the Russian Generals who were incompetent ordered an all out offensive against the well trained and well equipped German Army. It was a disaster the Russians were defeated and their casualties amounted to eight million killed, captured and wounded and word got through that the workers, and members of the armed forces had revolted against terrible conditions which the people were witnessing at home, this led to the soldiers at the front revolting and going back to their homes.

This is the Russia that Lenin found when he arrived back in Petrograd. In the cities and towns the workers and soldiers formed Soviets. (Which means Council elected by workers and soldiers or districts). The Bolsheviks led by Lenin was in the minority of different factions. Such as Anarchists, Left Socialist Revolutionaries, Liberals, Menshevicks and other small groups in the regions of Russia. But by the skill and a believer in unity Lenin gradually drew the members of these other factions into becoming members of the Bolshevik Party which later became the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Lenin was very clever and as a Marxist adopted a principle of “One step backwards often meant two steps forward”. This bore fruition when he instructed Trotsky to agree to an armistice with the

Page 143 Germany although it meant seeding part of of the Ukraine to the Germans but six months later the in November 1918 the Germans were defeated. This was also a bonus for the army because it meant that Lenin had an army and over the next few months his strategy was put to the test.

The test came when Allied troops landed in Murmansk and Archangel in the north, Odessa in the south and Vladivustok to support the opposition to the new republic. If the Allies and the White Guards had been welcomed by the the majority of the population The Soviet Republic could not have survived. Lenin had the support also of the newly formed Red Army which was formed by Trotsky in 1918. this led to the defeat of the White Armies and their Allies.

Unfortunately Lenin died in the early 1920s. In my opinion if he had lived during the period when Stalin took over the leadership of the Soviet Union the purge of the old guard such as Zinoviev and Kaminev and others who were executed in 1936 would not have happened. Lenin was a great man who was instrumental of setting the course of bringing the standard of living on a level with most other European countries.

Remember that Russia when Lenin arrived back in 1917 was one of the most backward nations in Europe75% of the population were illiterate and their industrial production was at a very low level, but with skill and the belief in unity he set the country on course to achieve better educational standards for the people which meant that Russia could match the technical skills of other countries. Lenin unlike Stalin was more tolerant with those who did not agree with him. Stalin who showed more harshness in dealing with opposition in the Communist Party.

Another great man in my lifetime is the President of Cuba Fidel Castro who as I write has just celebrated his 76th birthday (August 2002) Castro in 1959 led the revolution which ousted the American backed dictator and set the Cuban people on the course of socialism and despite the US placing economic sanctions which has hurt the

Page 144 countries schooling., Cuba has the highest literacy in Latin America and has set a goal of improving education by having no more than 20 students in a class.

Since 1959 attempts have been made to overthrow the Cuban Government. According to a book “Bacarrdi, The Hidden War. by Hernando Calvo Ospina”. The Baccardi rum company which was based in Cuba before the revolution have for 40 years bankrolled extreme rightwing groups and American politicians in an effort to remove Castro and re-establish its profitable empire in Cuba.

A more elaborate plot to kill Castro in 1964 according to documents released in 1998 which gave details of a plot to kill Castro which would involve U,S, elements of the Mafia, also to be assassinated were Castro’s brother Raul and Che Guevara. These and other attempts including the economic embargo have failed and at the present time American politicians and people are pressing the U,S Government to lift the economic sanctions.

In 1992 Castro made a speech and which I quote below.

“Consumer societies are fundamentally responsible for the brutal destruction the environment”. With only 20% of the worlds population, these societies consume two-thirds of the metals and three- fourths of the energy produced in the world. They have poisoned the seas and the rivers, polluted the air, weakened the ozone layer, saturated the atmosphere with gases which are catastrophically changing weather conditions. It is not possible to blame the third world for this. Yesterday they were colonies, today, they are nations exploited and pillaged by an unjust economic order. If we want to save mankind from this self-destruction, we have to better the wealth and technologies available in the world”.

This speech made in 1992 was echoed by a quotation by the President of South Africa. Thabo Mabeki when he opened the “Earth Summit in Johannesburg in August 2002”. He said.

Page 145 “A global human society based on poverty for many and prosperity for a few, characterised by islands of wealth, surrounded by a sea of poverty is unsustainable.” Delegates from some 200 countries are attending the conference.

Fidel Castro to me is one of the worlds greatest and will be remembered in history for his efforts to improve the standard of living for the people of the developing countries.

Other great men in my life time were Mao Tse-tung, who led the revolution and helped to free the people of China from feudalism. For more information read “ The Great March” 1934-35.

Of course Mandela, Lenin, Castro and Mao Tse-tung were men of international greatness.

What about the men and women of Britain who in my opinion, in my lifetime have campaigned and worked for the better living standards of the British people. I have mentioned Barbara Castle and Arthur Scargill.

Tony Benn gave up his peerage to become a Labour Member of parliament he also became a Cabinet Minister, he is a firm believer in socialism, this stems from what his mother taught him Quote.” I was brought up on the bible by my mother who told me it was the story of the age-old conflict between the kings who had the power and the prophets who preached righteousness. She taught me to support the prophets against the kings meaning that each of us had the responsibility for learning to differentiate between good and evil and make that our guide for action.” Unquote.

Their are people today who believe their is no difference between left and right in British politics. Tony Benn answers these political pundits as follows. The fact that such a statement could be made - and remain unchallenged - proved the success of the Establishment’s long campaign to eliminate socialist ideas from our political analysis and vocabulary.

Page 146 Many people have actually been persuaded that everyone is middle class and that it is only the lazy and incompetent who ever become poor, unemployed or homeless.

Similarly we are assured by the financial commentators that the fat cats with their massive pay-offs deserve every penny by the virtue of their hard work and entrepreneurial skills. This is even if they made it by gambling with money which others have earned or by the form of theft known as insider trading.

In this way, those in power hope to remove any possible challenge to their privileges by suggesting that the criteria used to justify their actions are self-evident by using the profitability test.

He also brings our attention to the choice facing the human race, upon which its survival may depend. In Washington which is the most powerful nation the world has ever seen and Johannesburg where some of the poorest people in the world live. Washington is openly preparing for war and Johannesburg at the World Summit some 200 nations are trying to chart a route leading to the establishment of universal justice-without which, peace is not possible.

In the US the decision will be made by one man. George W Bush, funded by, and representing the financial interests of the richest corporations that now exploit the planet for profit. He will be acting without the authority of the elected Congress and in defiance of the United Nations charter.and declare war on Iraq which will kill thousands of innocent men, women and children .

In Africa the secretary general of the UN Kofi Annan in the spirit of the charter, is seeking consensus of nations represented at the World Summit on policies that would shift the balance of world power in favour of the poor at the expense of the rich. If he succeeds tens of millions of people now facing sickness and death will survive. This is the choice that Tony Benn puts to the British people.

Page 147 What is our choice. Do we choose to support the US and take up arms to kill many innocent people or do we choose to take the humanitarian way and help the poor of the developing countries, like a little boy called Visumzi from a black township in the Eastern Cape in South Africa without power or running water, or a Chinese girl born in the sprawling and polluted Quangzhou, or Rosamaria who lives in a crime ridden shanty town in Rio whose father abandoned her family when she was born and Panjarvanam whose father died working in a chemical works in India. These are some of the children from a film called the “Children of Rio” and the film maker Bruno Sorrentino hopes that the film will bring home environmental and development issues to the public through the lives of children.

Finally I must include Jack Jones, who I recognise as a man with principle. Jack Jones is retired General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union. TGWU When he retired in the 1970s he was offered a peerage which he refused because he wanted to become active and carry on campaigning for retired people.

He helped to form the National Pensioners Convention NPC and became the President, since then he has worked, campaigned and represented pensioners at all levels and in his late 80s he his still carrying on the fight for the elderly. He was one of the founders of the Pensioners Parliament which meets every year with well over 1,500 delegates from the British Isle in attendance the Parliament is usually held in Blackpool and lasts for three days.

Jack Jones will also be remembered for going to Spain in the 1930s with the International Brigade to fight against the fascists before the 2nd World War began in 1939.

In this section of the book I have tried to address various issues which are confronting us all, therefore I must draw attention for the future generation to the subjects that are being discussed at the Earth's Summit in Johannesburg in August 2002 involving 60,000 delegates from all over the world.

Page 148 Delegates debated the state of the earth's environment, and the crucial question of development such as health care, education and how to relieve poverty, also some of the pressing issues of our time, from dwindling water supplies and rampant disease and the problem of feeding the planet!s growing population.

1)Water. At the current rate of consumption, most of the world will not have enough water within 30 years. 2)Poverty. 2.8 billion people live on less than 2 dollars a day, life for others have never been better. 3)Health. Diseases that have been eradicated in the west still kill million in the third world countries. 4)Climate change. Providing electricity for the poor without adding to global pollution is the challenge of the century. 5)Food and Trade. Subsidies to western farmers mean billions in the third world go hungry even though they are surrounded by food. 6)Education. Population control and coping with natural disasters that hit the poor worst of all.

For example take water - 1. 2 billion people lack access to clean water, twice that number have no sanitation and most of the world will not have enough water within the next 30 years, this could jeopardise food supplies and trigger economic stagnation according to the UN.

Twenty- six countries suffered serious water scarcity in 1990, at the rate the world is developing and population growing that is expected to rise to 65 countries in 20 years time. Water according to the UN will become the most pressing environmental and development issue this century. The industrialised world has grown used to using a great amount of water.

It takes 25,000 gallons of water to produce one car, a nuclear power station can use 30m gallons. 25,000 gallons of water to produce one car, a nuclear power station can use 30 million gallons of ground water a day and the US computer industry alone needs 30 billion gallons a year.

Page 149 The capitalist countries will offer help if they can privatise water supplies a political and culturally contentious route to take in countries where people use little and have long believed that water is not a commodity from which anyone should profit.

One has only to examine the privatisation of water in Britain to prove this. Since water was privatised water charges have increased by very large amounts and the increases are on the up annually. I end this section of the book with some quotations from leading environmental experts.

Jonathon Porritt. director of Forum for the Future. Quote.” It is the markets that makes the rules. And you can’t buck the markets.” In the US gas guzzling is a pre-eminent symbol of the latter-day American dream- a sad corrupted travesty. In the UK in the year 2000, fuel tax disabilised the government, persuading Gordon Brown the Chancellor to junk all his lofty talk of green taxes and resource efficiency.

It was of course the government that Green Peace and Friends of the Earth berated instead of millions of addle-headed motorists who refused to make the connection between their own rights as car- owning citizens and the threat to society as a whole that climate change represents.

Eduardo Galeano, is a Uruguayan environmentalist, historian and one of South American leading social philosophers.

“Quote” The powers that dominate the planet reason by dropping bombs. They are the force,a genetically modified Frankenforce, a gigantic power that lays nature low. It exercises the freedom to turn the air into grime and the right to leave humanity homeless, it describes its atrocities as mistakes, is deaf to any warnings and it crushes anyone who gets in the way.

For more than two decades the ecologists prophesies were met with derision or apathy. Now the scientists are admitting that the ecologists were right all along. On June 3 2002. President Bush

Page 150 himself had to admit, for the first time, that disasters would occur if global warming continued to damage the planet. At the same time Mr Bush announced that the production of greenhouse gases will rise 43% by the year 2020. “Unquote”

I would say this has a touch of hyprocracy. But then he is president of a country of cars that guzzle petrol and vomit poison. “Quote” The United States practises environmental terrorism without the slightest remorse, as though the Lord had given it a certificate of immunity for giving up smoking.

Finally I end this section in a worrying state of mind, I am concerned about the present crisis between America and Iraq and what it entails for the future of the world. I have given my views on this in previous pages. Iraq has agreed to allow unconditionally UN inspectors into their country to verify that they have no weapons of mass destruction, this does not satisfy the ruling politicians in the USA, they want to engage in a war with Iraq.

In my opinion They want to dominate the world with their superior military power. I recall a policy statement by the US Department of Defence in May 2000 which set a policy of achieving a combination of forces with access to and freedom to operate in all domains, sea, land, air and with the ability to rapidly to project power world-wide to achieve full spectrum dominance.

I end with a statement from Nelson Mandela. Quote. The US is acting unilaterally and undermining the UN as a forum for settling international disputes to please the oil and arms companies.

Back to The Family.

January 27 2002 ——————— Sunday 9-15am. This was the day I lost my darling wife Mabel. aged 81. We had been married for 57 years, she was a wonderful wife, mother, grandma and greatgrandma, she gave me a wonderful family four sons.

Page 151 Francis, David, Alan, and Brian, also two daughters Susan and Cathryn, they are all married and they gave us pleasure of 15 wonderful grandchildren. Some of them are also married and have given us 10 great-grandchildren

My father did not believe in payment or recognition for his service to his fellow man. As a result of this, he believed that the MBE which he received was awarded to all his colleagues. I, therefore, include an article which was printed in the Bolton Evening News relating to the award.

Page 152 23 August 2002. To start this chapter I must record what happened in the early hours of the morning. I had said goodnight to Mabel something I do every night since she died and I was just dozing off to sleep,when their was a bang and the bed was shaken. I thought someone was trying to get in the other side of the bed, I switched on the light and got out of bed to look around everything seemed alright I glanced at the clock and noticed the time was about 12-55am so I got back in bed thinking I was part dreaming and in my dream it was Mabel getting in bed

I arose around 7-30 am and switched on the radio to hear the 8 o! clock news and it was announced that their had been an earthquake in the Birmingham area at the time I heard the bang, it registered 4.8 on the reading that measures earthquakes throughout the world, according to the announcer their was no damage reported but the shock waves where felt as far as West Yorkshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, it was reported that the earthquake did break windows, cut power, and set off alarms, in a car park in Liverpool cracks appeared in the surface. Experts say the the destructive energy was equivalent to a small nuclear bomb.

I wonder what kind of damage would be caused if an Hydrogen Bomb was used in the event of war, which is a thousand times greater, it would destroy buildings and kill and injure thousands of people in London and areas in the south and Manchester, Liverpool and areas in the north of the country.

Page 153 Back to the Family.

Having completed Part 2. I want to end this story and return to my family. I had started writing the book in 2001, when Mabel died in January 2002 I did not want to continue, but with the tremendous help and comfort the family gave me I was able to continue.

I now record the topical events that have taken place in our family. It is now 8 months since Mabel died I visit our grave two or three times a week. I have had a photo of Mabel and myself put on the gravestone. All the family visit the cemetery on regular occasions, we all still miss her. Margaret still makes Sunday dinner for Norman and myself which helps both of us to enjoy the company of our Francis, Margaret and our grandchildren Elizabeth and Jennifer. I am very proud these two young ladies they have both passed their A levels which entitles them to go to University. Jennifer is going to Manchester University to study law.

Elizabeth is using her qualifications by working in the office in the business which our Francis is the managing director,she is also attending college to gain further qualifications, They are now aged 18 and I wish them both every success in their endeavours in the future.

Our Cathryn and Barry visit me regularly we go to the cemetery and take flowers. Victoria and Suzanne our grandchildren are lovely. Victoria has also passed her A levels which means that she could go to University but like Elizabeth she wants to start work and do further studies part-time to further her qualifications. I am pleased to add that Victoria has succeeded in obtaining employment with Wigan Corporation in the Education Department and I wish her every success in her endeavours in the future.

It proves to me that education brings success in making a career. To all three. Go for it. Grandma would have been happy and proud of you.

Page 154 Suzanne is still at school and she reiterates that she still wants to be a teacher.

David has returned from working in China, he brought back a newspaper “ China Daily” it was good to read what the media prints in China, one gets their their side of the picture of world affairs. David’s daughter Diane and son Daniel are well, although David visits them every day when he finishes work I don!t get much information from him about their welfare from him I suppose no news is good news. Diane and Daniel do telephone me and let me know that all is well.

Alan and Edna visit and bring me some bread and potato cakes. Deborah our granddaughter has given birth to our 11th great granddaughter. Deborah brought her to see me her name is Georgia and she is lovely. Rebecca has now a little sister as well as two brothers Tom and Mathew. Daren our grandson and his wife Heidi visit me and bring our lovely granddaughters Rianne and Lucy.

Susan and Graham are very good they call and enquire if I need anything doing about the house, also they have been taking me to the dentist. Graham our grandson lives with them. I have been to see their new house, Andrew lives in the Manchester area and along with our great granddaughter Natasha and her mother and when Natasha comes to stay with her grand parents they bring her to see me, she is a lovely little girl. Our grandson Stephen lives with his partner Victoria, they seem to be very happy together.

Brian and Julie also call to see if I require anything, they have bought a caravan and it is stationed at Carnforth and they both go there on most weekends.

Carl our grandson is unemployed and he his looking for a job, he has got good qualifications. I have been helping him by arranging interviews at various firms. I hope he his successful as he and Kelly will be expecting their baby in October.

Page 155 Clare our granddaughter is also unemployed and I will try to get her in employment. I have asked her cousin our granddaughter Victoria when she leaves her present employment and starts her new job if it will be possible for Clare to take the job. Clare has also reached the age of 18 she too is a lovely young lady. Danny her boy friend is a nice lad and they seem well suited for each other, he his going to tidy up my green house and garden as I with my mobility problems find it to difficult to do. I hope Carl and Clare are successful in obtaining suitable employment.

Page 156 In the last four months June to September there has been lovely family gatherings. In June Jennifer and Elizabeth had their 18th birthday party at Buile Park it was a grand occasion some 200 people attended. Joan my sister and her family attended also Margaret’s brothers and sisters their wives, husbands and families.

In the month of July I went with Margaret and family to a party at her youngest brother David’s house who lives in a beautiful house on top of a hill in Norden, the house is a listed building and has some history, John Wesley the founder of the Methodist Religion preached a sermon in the house so the house must be very old. David and his family have spent a lot of time and money making it a lovely dwelling place it is at present, he also has built up a thriving business of internal roofing of buildings such as shopping malls, business premises and housings. David has worked very hard and the end results are a credit to him.

On the 20th of August Lynda was given a party by her mother and father which was held in the Court House at Worsley this to was a grand occasion with all our families there, also well over 100 guests.

In August Francis returned from from South Africa after spending 4 weeks in the village Tiki- Tiki in the Southern Cape along with six others helping the people of the village to repair their school building. Francis told me of the terrible conditions of the people living there which was a legacy which was left when apartheid ended in South Africa. he said the people of the village were very co- operative in the venture and soon picked up the skills which they were being taught. I did pick up a situation from the video which showed a class of over 100 pupils.

When I asked how they managed to learn I was told that each pupil helped one another throughout the lessons, some of the students were over the age of 20, the tools which was taken which cost around one thousand pounds were left at the village when they returned to Britain.

Page 157 The tools and other items were bought by donations which were collected from the people around the Manchester area and by volunteers organising Car Boot Sales etc. Francis tells me they hoped to go back next year.

Page 158 October 5th was Brian and Julie’s 25th (Silver Wedding) Anniversary. They put on lovely party to celebrate the occasion at St Edmonds Club over 100 guests attended. our Brian gave a song it was the first time I have heard him perform, he was good if one likes that kind of music. I know Mabel would have been proud of him. The last time Mabel and myself were in that club was on Carl’s 21st birthday celebrations and Mabel along with our son Francis sang a song named “The Blanket on the Ground”, it brought back memories of Mabel my dear wife.

Brian gave me a lovely photograph of Mabel and myself at Julie and Brian’s wedding 25 years ago in 1977. Mabel looked beautiful. Carl did the enlarging of the photo and he made an excellent job of it.

Jennifer has started in the Law Department at Manchester University, it was a little strange for her at first but she is gradually adapting to it, she has to do a lot of reading of books which are very costly also to read the The Times newspaper and pick up information about law in cases which are reported in the paper, She will need to have a lot of encouragement and I will try to help her.

Elizabeth has started going to Bolton Institute College for 2 days per week studying Multi Media and Web Design, this is day release from where she works I hope she succeeds, she telephoned me today very excited to tell me she had passed her preliminary driving test she will soon be having her physical test, I hope she is successful and then she can join Victoria in forming more traffic jams (Only Kidding).

I Wonder what Mabel would have thought about these three young ladies who she used to cuddle when they where little and babies and used to teach them how to draw and paint.

I have made arrangement for Lynda and Clare to apply for a free course in Computer Studies, There is no charge for the course and after three months they receive a computer and printer free to carry on with their studies at home. The money £240,000 is being funded by the European Social Fund.

Page 159 My thoughts go back to the days when. Lynda, Julie, Jennifer, Victoria and Susanne used to come for dinner, on one occasion Lynda and Julie would only eat vegetables that grew in the garden, so when the growing season finished I had to make them believe that the vegetables that they were going to have for dinner had come out of the garden.

Therefore I got some of the vegetables that Mabel had purchased from the greengrocer and put them in my pocket and when I came in from the garden I emptied them out of the bag and informed Lynda and Julie that I had grown them, of course they eat them and today as young mothers they both like and eat plenty vegetables, and encouurage their children to do so but I don’t think they have the same that their grandma and granddad had. Incidentally Lynda can can now eat a plateful of sprouts, at the present time Jessica, Hannah and Dominic have dinner with me and they create the same problems as their mother when she was their age I have got over one problem by mashing carrots with the potatoes, although they create problems they are lovely great-grandchildren and I have plenty smiles at at some of their quotations and actions.

I recall another funny incident this occurred when our youngest grandchild Susanne who aged 6 was having dinner along with her sister Victoria, she had informed Mabel that she did not like Semolina, therefore one day when they were having some custard I mixed some semolina with the custard hoping Susanne would not detect the mixture, she put the first spoonful to her mouth to taste and then said. “That's semolina and I don!t want it”.

Susanne is now aged 15 and she still does not like semolina, she is a lovely girl and is doing well at school, she like all the family' was very upset when grandma died. Below is a poem she wrote about her grandma.

Page 160 I’m sorry to see you go grandma As you were tucked up in bed nice and warm. I know you will go to a better place now. Where we have lovely memories to keep hold. I still know that you will be with us grandma And watch us as each day passes by, Just as long as you know dear grandma, You filled many hearts with pride.

I’m glad you knew we loved you so very much, And we were happy you felt the same way, But nobody can take such good memories away from me, Which me and my grandma shared each day, You were married for 57 years, To a special man you loved very much, But just as you know dear grandma, You will be missed very much.

Your smile was made of sunshine. Your heart of purest gold. No treasure on earth can replace you, Your memory will never grow old. Look around your garden Lord, And find the one I deeply love. Tell her that I love her please, If only I could.

My love for her will always keep, It cannot fade it lies so deep. The gates of memories will never close grandma As the smile you had, we wil will always hold.

Page 161 I also have happy memories of our grand-children Diane and Daniel having Sunday dinner with us when they were school children, they have now grown up and are now in their 20s,

I received the happy news that our number 12 greatgrand-child was born a boy on the 12 of October 2002. he his being named Bradley Scott and is the son of Carl and Kelly who brought him to see me after mother and son came out of hospital, he his a bonny little chap.

Tuesday 15 October I had some disturbing news about our eldest daughter Susan who along with her husband Graham were on holiday on the Greek island of Cos. Graham telephoned and informed me that Susan had an accident she had been struck with a wave and was thrown on her back which impaired her movement, they were due to return home on Friday the18 October but the Doctor said she could not be moved for at least week, all the family was very worried because we did not know where they were staying on the Island.

Cathryn our youngest daughter got in touch with Andrew one of Susan!s sons and he gave her more information about the situation and he said he would keep me informed about his mothers accident. Therefore I decided that I would wait a day or two and if I could not get any satisfactory information I would try to get in communication with the British Consulate in Greece to enquire if they could locate where Susan and Graham where staying.

On Friday the 18 October. Francis and myself went to Manchester University to hear Tony Benn, it was a wonderful experience, he was brilliant and lived up to all that I have written about him on previous pages of the book. Jennifer bought the tickets, also Francis bought the book “Tony Benn Free at Last” . On reading the book I find it captivating and find it difficult to put it aside while I carry on doing other things that want doing. Mabel would have liked to have read this book as she thought Tony Benn was a great man and we both came into contact when we visited Labour party Conferences in the early 90s.

Page 162 On Monday 21 October Jessica came and I offered her cup of Ovalteen expecting she would say I don’t like it, so I did the same trick that I played on her mother some 20 years ago. I said it was made of real chocolate mixed with hot milk and sugar she accepted the brew and drank the whole pint pot, her comment was it was very good. I will try the same trick my other great grandchildren when they visit me.

While Jessica was with me she answered the telephone and it was Susan!s husband Graham, he informed me that they would be returning on Wednesday the 23 October and a ambulance would be waiting to take Susan home from the Airport in Manchester and her Doctor had been informed, today is Tuesday the 22 October and I will be waiting for a telephone message from Graham when they arrive home.

Today Julie telephoned and informed me that little Masie our great- grandchild was poorly with a chest infection she is a lovely little baby girl and I hope she will soon recover

Wednesday 23 October. Susan arrived home after a journey of 14 hours, she is now waiting of the results of an X Ray, her back is very painful. I am relieved of my worry and I hope she will soon recover.

Thursday 24 October. Went to the cemetery plenty flowers on Mabel!s grave. Cathryn ensures that their is always fresh flowers in place.

Saturday 26 October. Julie and Masie came. Masie was on my knee and I gave her a “Gable Hunter Man” . This is done by bouncing them up on my knee. I did this when her mother Julie was a baby, indeed I did this to all our grandchildren and they all ask for more.

Sunday 27 October. Graham and grandson Graham came they brought our great-granddaughter Natasha she is a lovely little girl and she likes riding on the stairlift, grandson Graham who is now in his middle 20s, he his a grand lad and is over six feet tall. to think I used to give him a “Gable Hunter Man” when he was a baby.

Page 163 Graham Snr told me that our Susan!s back was giving her a lot pain. I hope the X Ray can give an idea of what as the injury caused and she will beable to get some treatment to ease the pain she is suffering.

Carl also paid me a visit and he had our number 12 greatgrandcild. Bradley Scott he seems to have put a little weight on since I last saw him. I have sent for his Baby Bonus Bond which will be making money for him by the time he arrives at the age of 21of course I will not be around then but I hope it will help along in his life. All our grandchildren and great-grandchildren have received the same amount of money because Mabel and myself loved them dearly.

Tuesday October 5. Watching the news in television when an item came on the screen showing York Railway Station and in the picture was the bridge which I used to see Mabel coming over when I was waiting of her returning from weekend leave from Wakefield and in my mind I could picture her in her Army ATS uniform she looked beautiful. Although this was in 1944-45 I gave a little sob and shed a tear (There is more about this in the book Was it Worth It. Chapter 4 ).

Saturday November 9. Received news of the death of Syd Robshaw Mabel!s brother at the age of 84. Syd was a special brother in law to me he frequently telephoned me and helped me through my hours of grief when I lost my dear wife Mabel his sister. According to my son Alan. Syd collapsed and died during an Armistice Service at Wakefield Cathedral, my heart and sorrow go to Connie his wife, son Barry and daughter Susan and their families, also my sympathies go to his brother Ted. I will miss his cheerful conversation and the gifts of a bottle of Red Wine he used to send me when Alan visited him and his wife in Wakefield,

He was an A1 Brother in Law.

Friday November 15. Along with Francis, Margaret, Alan and Edna went to the funeral of Mabel!s brother Sydney Robshaw. The funeral service was held in Wakefield Cathedral, with a guard of honour

Page 164 provided by the members of the Wakefield Royal British Legion with various Regimental Flags and a Piper playing a lament as the cortege entered the Cathedral.

The service was conducted by the Dean of the Cathedral who paid a very nice tribute the life of Syd he also reminded the congregation of the part that Syd had played in getting the War Memorial placed in a more prominent place in the City Centre of Wakefield, at the end of the service a bugler played the Last Post.

It was very fine display of devotion to Sydney Robshaw not only by his family and friends but the people of Wakefield who was represented by the Mayor of the City.

After the service Syd was laid to rest in the grave where his father is buried in Wakefield Cemetery. After the burial we went for refreshments at the Cedar Court Hotel where we met with Connie and family. Susan, husband Brian and their family also Barry and his daughter who came from Canada, also Nancy and her family and of course Ted, Christine, Keith, Hilary and Ian. Mabel love I don’t know where you both are but if you are in another world Syd will be telling you all about the send off he had.

When the funeral cortege was making its way taking the following cars to the cemetery in Sugar Lane we past through areas of the City that brought back fond memories of the happy times I had with Mabel in our young married life some 57 years ago, we passed where the Griffin Hotel and the Wakefield Arms used to be also the bridge where Kirkgate Railway Station used to be and the bridge that spanned the river Calder where the small church called the Chancery is. Happy and loving memories of the times I had with my lovely young wife.

Saturday 16 November. Francis, Alan and Cathryn received their credentials for entry into Buckingham Palace, when they accompany me when I receive the MBE on December 10. We are going to London on the 9th of December. We have arranged to meet our Member of Parliament Terry Lewis and he his taking us into the

Page 165 House of Commons. Margaret is coming with us. We will be looking forward to that experience.

Our Vicky had a terrible experience in her car when a young girl run in front of the car giving Vicky no time to stop. It was fortunate that she was only travelling at 28 mph, the girl only suffered minor injuries. the witnesses at the scene of the accident gave the police evidence that the girl was at fault, this was also accepted by the girls family and the police. Vicky was very shocked and said she did not want to drive the car again but her parents Barry and Cathryn persuaded her to get behind the wheel. I have talked to Vicky on the telephone and she informs me that her confidence in handling the car is restored. I hope the little girl is alright and the accident will have no lasting effect on her and Vicky.

Tuesday 26 November. I have finished reading “Tony Benn. Free at Last “ . It is a diary dating from 1991 to 2001 covering over 700 pages in the revues some of the comments in the media are full of praise. Here are some of the comments.

Quote. “The Financial Times”. The best Political Diaries of our Time. Jim Mortimer in the “Morning Star” Says Tony Benn is no ordinary politician. Nor is it sufficient to describe him as a distinguished statesman. Among living political figures in Britain, he is simply unique. Tony Benn is not doctrinaire and this is evident from his diaries. He is extremely well informed and his conclusions are always influenced by his experiences. Unquote.

My comment is that along with the Biography Nelson Mandela. I say these two books are the finest biographies I have read

Sunday 8 December. Today most of the family came to see me and to wish me luck when I go to London to receive the MBE at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 10 December. I am being accompanied by Cathryn, Margaret, Francis and Alan, we are travelling by Francis’s car except Alan who will be flying to London. The reason for this his employer Greenhalgh Bakers and

Page 166 Confectioners will not give him time off on Monday the 9 December. I think this is a disgrace and in future I will boycott purchasing anything from their shops and will be advising other people to do the same.

It is now only 16 days off Christmas and already I have had two lovely presents, an overcoat from Francis and Margaret and a pullover from Julie and Ian.

Monday 9 December. Our journey to London began at 8-15 am, arrived at Swinton which is about 3 miles from the start of our journey which took 45 minutes because of the traffic, we still had over 200 miles to travel to reach our Hotel and we all wondered what the traffic situation would be when we reached London. The Rochester is situated in St Vincent Square and the traffic situation nose to tail, eventually we arrived at 2-15 pm. a tiring journey.

After we had booked in. Francis informed Terry Lewis MP by telephone. We duly met Terry at St Stephens entrance at the House of Commons. He then proceeded to conduct our party consisting of Francis, Margaret, Cathryn and myself to various parts of the Houses of Parliament, we went on the terraces it was bitterly cold therefore we only stayed to have our photographs taken before retiring to the Strangers Bar where Terry supplied us with liquid refreshments.

While we were in the bar we saw some MPs who I recognised. I was in my wheel chair, this restricted my movements. Therefore Terry took Francis to his office and Margaret and Cathryn stayed with me in the bar until they returned. Then we made our way to the restaurant for tea and coffee etc and a chat on various political issues.

On behalf of Margaret, Cathryn, Francis and myself we thank Terry for giving us a wonderful afternoon in the House of Commons.

Page 167 To Our Family.

Sons, Daughters Sons in Law, Daughters in Law Grandchildren their Spouses and Greatgrandchildren.

Mabel and I wish to thank you all for being such a wonderful family. During the 57 years of our wonderful married life you have over the years given us joy and happiness for which we give you all our love and gratitude.

Although we have had our sad times these have been far outnumbered by the many years of joy and happiness you have given us both.

Mabel my lovely and loving wife was my inspiration and I thank the powers that be for guiding me to her in York in November 1944, she has been wonderful Wife, She gave me four fine sons.Francis, David, Alan, Brian and two lovely daughters Susan and Cathryn and gave them excellent care and guidance during her lifetime.

She was the kingpin of our family. Beside being a a Mother she was a talented lady, her excellent paintings, embroidery and poetry are wonderful and in your future years are a living proof and rememberance of your lovely and loving mother.

Of course you are all married now and we were thankful that during our lifetime you have given us 15 beautiful grandchildren and 10 lovely great-grandchildren and as I write this letter to you all two more are expected, unfortunately my dear Mabel will not be here to see them, I have no doubt that where ever she is she will be sending her love and kisses to them.

The 27th of January 2002 was the saddest day of my life when my beautiful Mabel died

Over the years she loved and cared for me in a way that no one could better and on that fateful day when the light of my life went to sleep in my grief I wanted to go with her, then a voice said to me you still

Page 168 have that wonderful family to live for I don’t know where that voice came from but it helped to lighten my burden of grief.

Yes my darling wife I will love and cherish you for ever and thank you for all the love and happiness you have given me during the 57 years of our married life. You will be happy to know this wonderful family of ours are looking after me of course we never doubted this would happen when we used to sit and talk together.

One of your favourite quotation was “Have’nt we got Wonderful Family”.

Mabel on your behalf and myself I thank them all.

All our love and gratitude.

Mum, Dad, Grandma, Grandad and Greatgrandma and Grandad. XX.

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