John Roberts Widdup and SDF. SUE HAYTER
Posted: 21 Apr 2012, 08:11
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
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