Southall Carpenters & Joiners Union
Councillor Horace Lucia - Farewell
Report Southall Gazette
Members of Southall General Union of Operative Carpenters and Joiners union assembled at the Northcote Arms, Southall on Wednesday evening last week, the occasion being a farewell dinner in honour of Mr Horace Lucia.
Mr. Lucia was practically the founder of the Southall Branch of the Carpenters & Joiners Union, and during the twelve years of it existence- he held the offices of Secretary, Treasurer, and President at various periods, until about sixteen moths ago he secured a Government appointment on the West Coast of Africa (Ghana).
He has now been home on holiday for four months, and returned to resume his duties in
Mr. F.Hann presided, and was supported by Mr H. Lucia, A. Bond (secretary), and Mr J. Rundle (walking delegate of the union), with Mr. William Matkin (general secretary) of the union) in the vice-chair.
An excellent dinner was provided by Host J. H. Gerard following; which the Chairman read a letter from Mr. A. W. Rayner (Carpenters & Joiners Union District Secretary), who regretted his inability to attend, and expressed ins good wishes to Bro.Lucia whom he knew to be a good worker for trade unionism, j
After the loyal toast had been duly honoured the Chairman expressed his pleasure at being in the chair at what was the first social evening hold by the Sonthall Branch.
He hoped that it would not be the last, as in his opinion more good was done at' one social evening than at all the Branch meetings that could be crammed into a twelve months
The object of the meeting that night was to honour one whom they were proud to call "one of us," Brother Horace Lucia. It was quite unnecessary for him to give even a brief history of his career: it was well known to all of them. Brother Lucia had been a member of the General Union for the last twenty years, and had always taken an active interest in trade unionism and all that it meant. He thought they could do with a great deal more members of thee same mettle as Bro Lucia, for wherever there was any work to be done there ho was to be found, always in the front rank.
Those "stars" in the human firmament seemed to be few and far between they rose up amongst them. cheered those who came into-contact with them and, after a time, dropped out and were lost sight of.
The " star " of Southall had dropped out quicker than expected.Like some stars that returned periodically, he was back with them that night, and he hoped that the time would come when they would have him back withthem permanently.
He would be returning to the West Coast of Africa next week, and he took that opportunity of assuring him, on behalf of the members of that branch, that they would never forget him. -
He (the speaker) was one of the representatives to the trades and labour council and at their meetings frequent reference was made to the name of Bro Lucia and the views he advocated.
That showed that his advice there was very much respected and spoke volumes for his uprightness and soundness of judgement.
It was their earnest wish that he might be permitted to return home once more to his wife and fanily and those tiesof friendship he valued so much
He asked them to drink to the health and prosperity of their friend and brother Brother Horace Lucia.
Mr Horace Lucia responded and expressed his deep appreciation for the flaterring manner in which the toast had been peroposed and the cordial manner in which it had been recievied. He had know nearly half the members present for quite twenty years – the length of his membership in the society and at times had the pleasure of disagreeing with most of them but at the same time he would like to say that whether they agreed or agreed to differ with their colleagues and friends in an organisation like that if their principles were good and their actions straight forward they would be able to say as he could that after that number of years they were the best of friends and hoped to remain so for many years to come
Mr William Matkin said he was very pleased to have the opportunity of meeing their friend Bro Lucia he knew the struggle br lucia had in the formation of that lodge and the manner he had stuck to since its inceptionand was sure that he was pleased to see the members present that evening and the altered conditions of things woith regard to the feeling towards trade unionism that was spreading throughout the country and especially in London
NOTE
Horace Lucia active in Southall Clarion Fellowship
Horace Lucia Elected as first Labour Councillor in Southall
This report would have the Southall Carpenters & Joiners Union established in 1901
William Matkin, 1883-1920
WiIliam Matkin was born at Gaythorpe, Lincolnshire , in 1845, and as was customary in those parts served his apprenticeship as a joiner in residence with the master with whom he was indentured. When he became a journeyman he migrated to Sheffield, where he joined the G.U. in 1864; and from there to London . In the Metropolis he attached himself to Wandsworth Town Lodge and later to the London Progressive Lodge. Always active in trade union affairs, for some years he acted as the London District Secretary for the, G.U. lodges until his appointment as General Secretary in the latter part of 1883. This post he held continuously until his death in 1920. In 1890 he was president of the Liverpool Trades Union Congress and was elected to the Parliamentary Committee of that body
The clock
The clock belonged to a Mrs Horace Lucia, 22 Butter market, Bury St Edmunds circa 1880s
Photo London Committee 1891
Uxbridge branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners was meeting in 1888 and working closely with the Operative Bricklayers Society
