'Salad Days of a Prime Minister' a Four-Part Series by Owen Taylor

Holy Trinity, Bickerstaffe Supplement Issue August 2020 ‘Salad Days of a Prime Minister’ A Four-Part Series By Owen Taylor Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, we have not printed the monthly Bickerstaffe Church Magazine. We hope you enjoy this special supplement containing all four parts of the series. Please feel free to print and distribute copies to your neighbours. Page 2 ‘Salad Days of a Prime Minister’ By Owen Taylor Much has been written about Richard John Seddon, Victorian Premier of New Zealand, but almost nothing has been revealed about his childhood visits and two year stay at Barrow Nook Hall Farm. Fortunately, former local Carpenter, John Pennington, who was a great admirer of the Premier, jotted down many of the stories his father imparted to him about his boyhood friendship with Richard John. It appears the first visit to his Grandfather's farm began at an early age. He made the journey by rail from St Helens to Rainford Junction accompanied by his father. On reaching Moss Lane after a two mile walk, they called for pies at his Uncle's newly acquired provision shop. It was from this location that Edward Pennington and another local farmer's son, Richard Stockley, became acquainted with Richard John. The threesome became friends, an attachment that lasted many years. Barrow Nook Hall Farm – The 1851 Census names ‘Richard John Seddon’ as a Tenant Farmer, the New Zealand Premier’s Grandfather. Page 3 Memories of this period were never forgotten. He often recalled being a witness to the vivid spectacle of the 13th Earl of Derby's funeral and the profound effect it had on him as a six-year old. On this occasion, about 400 of his Lordship's tenantry, all seated on horseback, stretched from Four Lane Ends to Stanley Gate, many of whom had been encamped in temporary stables overnight. They joined the funeral cortege at 11am, on July 2nd 1851. One of the pall-bearers was the Reverend T.E. Abraham, the first Vicar of Bickerstaffe. Richard John's school teacher father was very disappointed with his son’s lackadaisical attitude towards education. He left school at the age of twelve, not knowing what he would like to become. His mother, a strong-willed woman, decided it was time for her to take charge, so she packed him off to Bickerstaffe hoping a bit of honest farmwork would help to straighten him out. Grandfather Seddon didn't welcome Photo: Richard John him with open-arms because he knew he Seddon at the age of 25. could be quite a handful at times. Acknowledgements: John Pennington New Zealand Mail Angela Chaderton Owen Taylor Page 4 Part 2 Richard John was a strong, robust character, but he soon found the agricultural life monotonous and would slink off if the opportunity arose, spending lots of time around the ponds in 'Seddon’s Plantation', climbing trees and hanging upside down from the branches, a favourite stunt mastered during his stay here. Some days he was described as a 'rum-un' by Grandfather Seddon, especially if caught riding on carthorses, mounting the backs of cows, or throwing stones at ducks. At weekends, his friends would join him gudgeon fishing in local brooks, a popular pastime for country lads at the time. No nets or lines needed, just a pair of steady hands cupped, with the index finger relaxed, to ripple the water under the fish and gently lift it out. Soon after his fourteenth birthday, Richard John got 'itchy feet' and was ready to move on. His parents were relieved when he was awarded an apprenticeship at the St Helens based Daglish Engineering Company, where he stayed in for three years. The last job he held in Britain was spent at the Vauxhall Foundry, Liverpool, where he gained his 'Board of Trade' Engineers Certificate. The lure of gold probably explains why the young Seddon decided to emigrate to Australia in September 1863. He later recalled, 'A restlessness to get away to see new broad lands seized me'. He left Liverpool on the sailing-ship 'Star of England' and was at sea for three months before landing at Victoria. A message received by his friends said, 'I've a good heart, square shoulders and determination to make my way in the world'. Page 5 Only a couple of ponds and a few trees remain of the ‘Seddon Plantation’, most of it having been reclaimed for agricultural use during the First World War. According to the 1843 O.S. Map, the original size covered an area of three acres. It wasn't long before he was on his way to the Bendigo gold-fields, but it appears that his arrival was too late, as most of the rich seams had been worked-out. News of another gold rush at Waimea Creek on the South Island of New Zealand set him off to try his luck again. He sailed to the port Hokitika on the steamer SS Alambra in 1866. The rough and tumble of the gold-diggers existence was an ideal environment for young men of Richard John's calibre to make their mark on society. In time his engineering expertise helped him to gain favour with fellow workers who encouraged him to convey his skills into the water-race ventures conventional to the region. Page 6 Richard John Seddon’s Birthplace, 1845 Prescot Road, Eccleston Hill. Acknowledgements: New Zealand Mail John Pennington St Helens Star Angela Chaderton Owen Taylor Page 7 Part 3 Seddon soon contacted the local authorities and wrote to government members expressing his desire for more races, which, he deemed an important factor in elevating the interest of workers and subsequently helping to boost gold output of the colony. He showed more enterprise when he opened a general store in the midst of the mining community and as proprietor, quickly became well- known in the district. At the age of 24 years, Richard John was elected member of Arahura Road Board. His new position helped him to gain a foothold on the political ladder and gradually acquainted him with Parliamentary procedure, thus extending his popularity on the South Island. Richard John Seddon on Horseback. Perhaps it reminded him of his younger days in Bickerstaffe. Page 8 Everything now seemed to be going his way. In 1869, he sailed over to Melbourne to marry Miss Louise Spotswood, a lady who had waited three years, until her future husband’s success was assured. They produced a large family of eight daughters and three sons. Unfortunately, two of their daughters died in infancy. Premier Richard John, with family. John Stewart Spotswood-Seddon, called on Mrs Anne Taylor and Family, at Wood End Farm, Bickerstaffe, whilst on leave from the Army, during the occupation in Germany in 1919 (2nd Left, back row). In 1878, the borough of Kumara was constituted and Mr Seddon had the honour of being elected the first mayor. As a man of independent thought, he joined the Liberal Party in 1879 and was elected member for Hokitika, a town with a population of 2,363. Within the next decade he held many influential posts in government, including Minister of Mines and Public Works, Office of Native Affairs, Minister of Marine, Post Master General, Commissioner of Customs and Electric Telegraph Commissioner. His big day came in 1892 when he was Page 9 chosen as Acting-Premier due to the ill-health of Mr Balance, the sitting Premier. Some members of Parliament criticised his verbosity when addressing them. Rumoured too, was that he was unable to write properly until his late twenties and if he became excited, his Lancashire accent became more assertive. However, the following year, after the death of Mr Balance, Mr Richard John Seddon was elected Prime Minister of New Zealand. Premier Seddon at the opening of the Railway Works at Roxburgh. The expeditious rise of an ordinary young man to the highest office of state, in part of the British Empire and many, many miles away, was seen as an outstanding accomplishment at home. People felt proud that someone like themselves had attained such distinction. Local newspapers carried features proclaiming him as our 'King Dick'. Page 10 Premier Seddon with Senior Ministers, 2nd Right, front row, seated. Left, Statue of the Premier in Wellington, New Zealand. To be continued next month with his visit to Barrow Nook in 1902. Acknowledgements: New Zealand Mail Ormskirk Advertiser Angela Chaderton Owen Taylor Page 11 Part 4 Rumours were rife when news broke that the Prime Minister of New Zealand had received an invitation to Edward VII's coronation. It was already known that St. Helens Corporation had instituted an Act to confer the Honorary ‘Freedom of the Borough’ upon him, likewise, his native Parish of Eccleston had made arrangements to pay homage to the Right Honourable Gentleman. Earliest photo of the Premier’s Birthplace in Eccleston, St. Helens. In Bickerstaffe, people were unsure whether he could spare enough time to visit his boyhood home. The answer came on Monday 30 June 1902, when a young lad rushed into Mr Pennington's Barrow Nook workshop, shouting "Preemier's here, Preemier's here! Him an' his Mrs are hevin tay at Stockley's farm!". Carpenter John said, we were so excited, my father Edward slowly removed his work coat, adjusted his Page 12 tie and then we both briskly walked down the lane. Once around the corner the Premier's coach and four beautiful groomed horses came into view, a large throng of residents including many children had gathered at the farm entrance. As we arrived the Premier was just saying goodbye to the Stockley family and then started to walk towards us, he noticed my father at the rear of the crowd and walked straight to him and grasped his hand saying, "How are you Edward nice to meet you after all these years".

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