John Roberts Widdup and SDF. SUE HAYTER

[Stanley]

John Roberts Widdup and SDF

The following is an extract from ‘Justice’ ( the paper of the Social Democratic Federation), December 28th 1895, written by John Roberts Widdup, an renowned local SDF activator from 1893 to his emigration to Canada in 1898.
Born: Barnoldswick July 20th 1870, died somewhere, but where?

“Provincial Notes
AN AGITATORS’ PEREGRINATIONS
On Sunday, December 8th, I commenced a tour among the Lancashire branches which was arranged by comrade Abrahams, the Lancashire district secretary. The tour commenced at Colne, and after visiting Barrowford, Todmorden, Bury, Rochdale and Bolton , I finished at Blackburn.
The Cone comrades had taken a public hall for the two meetings, and had widely advertised my visit. The meetings were not well attended, , but two fairly good meetings were held. A noticeable feature about the afternoon meeting was the large number of people who had walked over from Barnoldswick, in Yorkshire, a small village, my native place, some five , miles distant from Colne. It is not probable that a branch could be formed at Barnoldswick. Will Lansbury please note?

To speak my mind ( and these notes had better not be written if I do not report things as I find them no matter whom I please or displease) the movement does not seem to be progressing very well at Colne. This is not to be wondered at when it is to be remembered that the Colne comrades have had no permanent meeting place for years owing to the difficulty in securing premises of their own. But the old members are still actively at work.
I must not omit to mention the success of the Colne Socialists at the recent municipal elections . The S.D.F candidate polled exceedingly well, and the Trades Council were successful in returning, I think, two of their nominees who are Socialists, and if I mistake not members of the branch. Progress of this character is, after all, the best indication of the power and the strength of any branch, and is of vastly more importance than a large branch membership with no influence on public affairs…”

The article continues to describe all of John’s experiences in each of the named towns

I am grateful to the Socialist Party of Great Britain, and the World Socialist Movement for locating and providing me with copies of this article, along with many others, pertaining to the political activities of J R Widdup, my great grandfather.
I am also very grateful for the efforts that they have been putting in to try discover the whereabouts of this man after 1901 in Quebec.
Sue Hayter

[Sue]

I have often wondered where John Widdup got his education as he was a mill worker at 10 years of age. Last night I found my answer. I have a years membership of Bristish Newspaper Archives and often do a search on one of my many family names. Last night I found the examination results of summer 1889 for the Mechanics Institue in Burnley. John got second class in shorthand and English Literature in May and in the July got first class in Commercial English. That accounts for his literary abilites in the various papers he wrote for/in and the political pamphlets he wrote.

Earlier in the week I found an article about John's son Dr Harry P Widdup. He was successfully prosected for dangerous driving in 1934 in London. His home address was given which answered another question for me as to when Harry moved to that address in Kensington.

I love genealogical research, I like being nosey!!!!

[Stanley]

Nice Sue.... When you have a spare minute could you do me a favour please? In my tank research I have come across a list of towns that received tank because of their contributions to war savings. There is a mention in that of 'The Silver Bullet' and if it was a publication connected with the War Savings Committee I can't find it. '5 1/4%' might have been part of the title. Any help would be appreciated!

[Sue]

I have had a look Stanley but so far no joy

[Stanley]

Not surprised, we know it exists but I'm not sure that it wasn't just a government leaflet. I'll mail a query to the lads!

[Sue]

I have had a letter from a researcher at Manchester Metropolitan university. I am to be interviewed about John Widdup as part of a research project at the university. I was tracked down through information I must have left sometime at Burnley library. So exciting

[Stanley]

Fame at last!

[Sue]

[Stanley]

Did the interview ever happen Sue?

[Wendyf]

There are 34 issues of the Silver Bullet from 1918/19 now available on the British Newspaper Archive and Findmypast. This is the front page of issue 1.

snapshot_www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk_1733554601005.png

[Sue]

Morning

Yes Stanley the interview did happen but by phone. The person, I forget his name now was doing a PhD on political activists of the area but with a different slant linking them to present day members of the family, or something like that. Sadly COVID got in the way and we were unable to ever meet face to face. A couple of years ago the PhD was completed but the section on John was removed. I received an apology from the writer but the external assessors decided to cut the section on John because all my info was paper research based and not based on actual family knowledge or something like that. Somewhere I have the section he did write but obviously cannot publish it on here as it is not my right to do so

[Sue]

wendy I cannot read the newspaper but will look it up

[Sue]

Found it on Find my Past Wendy and had a look but not sure what for. Am I missing something

[Wendyf]

Sorry Sue I posted that in answer to Stanley's question but it isn't relevant to your topic!

[Stanley]

Never mind, Sue's reply demonstrates that the topic is still alive and well.....
I have seen assessors react like that before Sue on a dissertation I once wrote. I forget the total context now but I successfully argued with them that the facts were good though obscure and were proven. They didn't like it.

[Sue]

Never mind, Sue's reply demonstrates that the topic is still alive and well.....
I have seen assessors react like that before Sue on a dissertation I once wrote. I forget the total context now but I successfully argued with them that the facts were good though obscure and were proven. They didn't like it.

I have Emailed you the relevant chapter in its initial form Stanley. I was asked to correct this the facts and spelling. It was just a couple of names that were wrong including my own.,