Maggie Broughton

Elise "Maggie" Broughton

Born 25th April 1912 at Handcross, Crawley, Sussex. Her father worked at the post office (telephones) and voted Liberal, her mother was a housewife.

Elsie trained as a Registered Nurse and later a Fever Nurse in various London Hospitals, Elsie came to Hayes in 1936.

In 1944 Elsie Joined the Hayes Labour Party, and became Secretary of Belmore Ward and later Constituency Secretary, She was also election agent for at least one Middlesex County Council Elections.

she recalls having to help compile are own Electoral Register in 1945. "many of us toured the streets on Sundays recruiting new labour party members. on one successful day, we made more than thirty new Party members in Ashford and Berwick Avenues". She also recalled the Party organising lots of street corner meetings"

She recalls that the first immigrants to Hayes where "Polish ex servicemen, many with English wives" and attacks by the local Liberals on the new Asian arrivals

Active in Hayes Trades & Southall Council from 1952

1963 - 1964 and Labour councillor on Maggie Broughton was a Labour Councillor on Hayes Urban District Council from Hillingdon Council 1964-1968 (?)
recalled Labour Party activists such as Wilfred Sutcliffe, E.K. Harding, Bill Mongor, Paddy Burke, Bill Lipscombe, Ivor Anthony, Simon Geldberg

Elsie recalled that "The acquisition of the Allied Estate, establishment of meals on wheels in 1948, allotments" were the major achievements of Labour controlled Hayes UDC. "We seemed to be an unusually successful UDC".

also she recalled Labour party or TGWU secretary ? Secretary Dai Jones Coldharbour Lane , Chair:Walter Chubb (Chalfont Road) and recalled Peter Pink, John Mansfield, George Brooks and Frank Foster as "key" local Hayes Communist party members

Regarding the devisions in Hayes Labour Party she stated that " to be honest. I can't remember what principle, was it Clause 4". (ed Think it was EEC. Elsie, rather sadly, followed Neville Sandelson (local Labour MP) into the Social Democratic Party. Elsie had been key in the Hayes Women's Section in securing support for Sandelson having been formerly his voluntary secretary. Having spoken to her in the late 1980's Elsie still recalled fond memories of the Labour Party and its work. with regard to the split "Neville was accused of going back on an undertaking which, it was contended, he had promisedwithdrawl). Unfortunately Neville could not resists countering insults with more insults"

She considered Walter Ayles MP "Not very approachable", Arthur Skeffington MP "Extremely hard working, never walked anywhere...always ran" and Neville Sandelson "Knowledgeable and friendly".

Involved in the Hayes Women's Co-operative Guild and also its Secretary for a number of years.

Active in the Hayes & Harlington Old Peeoplse Welfare Committee for 40 years, being secretary for most, organising Christmas parcels (3,000), outings and redistribution of ECC butter.

Elsie lived at 37, Warley Road, Hayes, later 47 Gledwood Gardens, hayes

Awarded MBE in 1990

Died, Hilligdon 21st March 1997 aged 84

UXBRIDGE URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL 1946 ELECTION

First Labour majority on Uxbridge UDC April 1946

Labour candidates

Hillingdon East
Mrs Webb
J. Reynolds
G.L. Richards
W.C. Kuhlman

F.C. W. Glitz (Communist)(Not Elected) 465 votes
Cyril Bond (Communist) (Not Elected) 437 votes

Hillingdon West
Mrs S.H. Dubberley
P.E. Bates
--------------------------------
W.H. Baker (Not Elected)
H.J. Bailey (Not Elected)
Mrs Bond (Not Elected)
C.J. Gadsden (Not Elected)

Hillingdon Central
F. W. Cater
A.H. Lethbridge
J. Osgood
H.M. Ross
W.G. Willis
Lou Sherman

Uxbridge Central

W. B Hill (Not Elected)
J. Simmonds (Not Elected)


Ickenham
Mrs A.L. Speechley (Not Elected)
G.A. Ward (Not Elected)

Cowley
S.B. Watson
N.J. Young

Harefield
A.W. Draper (Not Elected)
C.Penn (Not Elected)

NOTE

Uxbridge Council Result Labour 14 others 12

Labour Councillor Mrs S.H. Dubberley elected Chairman of Uxbridge Housing Committee (pic October1946) Mrs Dubberley's husband was leader of the National Union of railwaymen locally from the 1920's. Both Mr & Mrs Dubberley were highly rated by Dickie Bond.

Council Chairman Mr L.J. Reynolds


Mr W.G Pomeroy (War time Chairman of the Council) elected top of the poll Hillingdon West

Flight Luitentatnt Frank Beswick was also elcected as Uxbridge first Labour Member of Parliament in 1945 with a 1.084 majority

mr F. W Carter was Uxbridge Divisional Secretary of the Labour Party, Councillor G. Richards Chairman and Mr Robert Goodman Uxbridge Labour Sectretary

Labour majorities recorded at 1946 elections at

Middlesex County Council
Hayes & Harlington UDC
Yiewsley & West Drayton
Uxbridge

also
Labour gains at Ruislip- Northwood UDC (Ind 19 Labour 5) (winning 3 in South Ruislip)
Chairman Ruislip Labour Party Mr C.M. Lewis

At Denham, Buckinghamshire, The Labour Party made its first challenge and four of its seven candidates were elected on to Denham council in 1946

UXBRIDGE URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL 1946

First Labour majority on Uxbridge UDC April 1946

Labour candidates

Hillingdon East
Mrs Webb
J. Reynolds
G.L. Richards
W.C. Kuhlmas

C. W. Glitz (Communist) not elected
C.R. "Dickie" Bond (Communist) not elected

Hillingdon West
Mrs Dubberley
P.E. Bates

W.H. Baker (Not Elected)
H.J. Bailey (Not Elected)
Mrs Bond (Not Elected)
C.J. Gadsden (Not Elected)

Hillingdon Central
F. W. Cater
A.H. Lethbridge
J. Osgood
H.M. Ross
W.G. Willis
Lou Sherman

Uxbridge Central

W. B Hill (Not Elected)

J. Simmonds (Not Elected)

Ickenham
Mrs A.L. Speechley (Not Elected)
G.A. Ward (Not Elected)

Cowley
S.B. Watson
N.J. Young

Harefield
A.W. Draper (Not Elected)
C.Penn (Not Elected)

NOTE

Mr W.G Pomeroy (War time Chairman of the Council) elected top of the poll Hillingdon West
Labour majorities recorded at 1946 elections at

Middlesex Countu Council
Hayes & Harlington UDC
Yiewsley & West Drayton
Uxbridge

also
Gains at Ruislip-Northwood UDC (Ind 19 Labour 5)

At Denham Labour made its first challange and four of its seven candidates were elected

Labours First Chairman

Middlesex County Council (MCC)

County Alderman Bernard Harry Rockman of Ealing was elected by 46 votes to 43 (Mrs Baker) as the first Labour Chairman of Middlesex County Council in 1946

At the April 1st, 1946 Middlesex County Council elections Labour had secured its first majority, securing a majority by five seats

Mr Bernard Harry Rockman is 52, and was educated at Westbourne Park School. He was active in the Labour since the First World War

He served in the Territorial Army from 1911-1916, when he was released from service to assist in Aircraft production.

Member of National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association (union)

Secretary of the national and London Joint Industrial Council

Rockman had been first elected to Middlesex County Council in 1934 and had previously been Deputy Leader of the Labour Group. He as also a Justice of the Peace.

During World War 11 he was Chief Warden for Ealing Council Civil Defence Service

NEW MIDDLESEX COUNTY COUNCIL ALDERMAN

Mr F.W. Carter

Lives at Hillingdon and is Secretary of Uxbridge Labour Party

12 years Alderman on Acton Borough Council

Elected to Middlesex County Council for two periods

"being in fact one of the first four Labour councillors elected to that (Middlesex County Council) body"

He moved to Uxbridge circa 1934

He stood as the Labour candidate for Middlesex County Council (Uxbridge West) in 1946 failed but was elected as an Alderman.

Mrs Beatrix A. Beaumont (first women councillor in Yiewsley 15 years previously and appointed JP in 1944) was made also made a Middlesex County Council Alderman as was R.W Gunton of Hayes

NOTE

Tom Parker was a candidate for Uxbridge at the 1946 Middlesex County Council

Independent Labour Party (ILP)

An address on "The Land and the People" was given on Tuesday at Ickenham Congregational Guild by Mr A. Humphries of the Independent Labour Party (ILP)

The chairman Mr H. Rogers Houchin said

"the land question would become more important than ever after the War, large numbers of young fellows who had had a taste of open air life through joining the army and would never be content again in shops and offices, they would want access to the land".

Buckinghamshire Advertiser 9th April 1915

Note:

Early warning signs of the future campaigns to gain access to the Countryside, Kinder Trespass.

It has been decided to form a Liberal Association for Uxbridge and District

Serious rioting in Buckinghamshire after election result announced


Buckinghamshire Advertiser
April 10th 1880

National Union of County Officers (NUCO) Hillingdon Branch (1940)

Held their annual meeting at the Labour Hall, Hillingdon Heath

Mr G.S. Paget was Chairman

membership was reported as steady, and about 15 members were with the forces

Mr R. Ruttledge NUCO area organiser spoke on unions role in securing the War bonus for the Middlesex County Council.

Officers NUCO Hillingdon are

Chairman Mr G.S. Paget
Secretary: Mr B. Samuel
Branch Comfort Fund Mrs Weeks and Miss K. Fitzgerald
Delegetes to Uxbridge Trades Council were also appointed

Hayes & District Trades Union Council (1940)

Meet at The Crown Hotel, Uxbridge Road, Hayes

need to establish a National Workers War vigilance committee

Chairman Mr A.J. Thomas AEU
Vice Chair Mr Cyril "Dickie" Bond ETU
Secretary Mr J. Golding ETU
Treasurer Mr Slade NUR

Extra Executive members
Mr Powell AE and SD
Mr Wiliam "Bill" .G Mongor ASWM


Mr Jacques AEU informed the meeting that a national shop stewards meeting for enginnering and aircraft trades was being held April 6th and 7th April 1940

Allegations of racketeering in hayes and coal dilivery muddle. it was stated that coal was being sold at 4s per cwt on one Hayes estate

Trades Council meets first Tuesday of the month at the Crown Hotel, Hayes

March 15th 1940

Basque Children

Among the 4,000 Basque children in the “heartbreak ship” which sailed to England from Bilbao nearly three years ago were tow little sisters Francisca and Manuela

Soon after their arrival their parents were reported killed but the two little girls found refuge and parental love in the house of Mr and Mrs Leonard Mayers of 22 Bempton Drive, Ruilip, London who are a childless family.

The children had seen friends and neighbours killed by bombs in the street and at first they could talk of nothing else.

By kindness and patience their new parents helped them forget and they were given English names Peggy and Molly.

Given same Birthday
Although they appeared to be twins Peggy instead she was the elder. So Mrs Mayers fixed their ages a year a part, but gave them the same birthday 1st August

Peggy and Molly were taught by Mr and Mrs Mayers to read, write and speak English. They were taught English sums, later they went to school

They forgot the horrors they had seen in Bilbao, they even forgot they were Spanish To everyone they meet they say they are English

Now aged Eight and seven Peggy and Molly are happy and contented they are popular with their teachers and schoolmates and were invited to four Christmas parties

Mr and Mrs Mayers were preparing to make the adoption legal when the war interrupted proceedings

Dead parents Return

They have not yet been told of the problem which faces the English mother and father to whom they are devoted
For news has just reached Mr and Mrs Mayers that the dead parents have returned to their home and want their daughters back again

The thought of parting with them breaks our hearts said Mrs Mayers they regard us as their real parents and have forgotten they were ever were Spanish they have even forgotten their Spanish tongue

“They are happy as the day is long with us and Peggy has lost a nervous frown she had…..We believe they are better off here in England than they would be in Spain but we would make any sacrifice for their good”

The Uxbridge Advertiser January 12th 1940

AEU Yiewsley & West Drayton 1940

Yiewsley and District has developed so greatly in recent years that the number of engineering factory employees has reached the stage when a branch of the Amalgamated Engineering Union can be formed.

Known as the Yiewsley & West Drayton branch of the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) it held its inaugural meeting on Friday 20th January 1940 at the De Burgh Hotel meetings will be fortnightly

Brother Mr J. Oliver District president presided over the first meeting he stated that "The union was faced with ever growing responsibilities in 1940 particularly in view of the War situation. New branches meant new development and new officers, who were themselves developing a new and greater influence in the locality

NOTE: Later known as AEUW now Amicus/Unite

HAYES WAR REPORTS 1940

Eight local halls have been placed at the disposal of Hayes & Halington Urban District Council for use as refuges for people rendered homeless in the event of air raids

the Halls are
St Jerome's Dawley, Salem Baptist Hayes End, Congregational Hayes Town, St Anselms Church Botwell, Methodist Hayes End, Harlington Parish Church, Harlington Baptist, Botwell House Club Hall

Red Cross Society providing parcels to prisoners of War in German prisons
Mr B. J Adderley 12 Mount Road, Hayes Honorary Secretary

CAB NEWS
The Hayes Citizens Advice Bureau at Uxbridge Road opened soon after the outbreak of war (circa 1939) has proved to be such a vibrant addition to the services of the town that another branch is soon to open (Jan 1940) at junction of Bourne Avenue/Dawley Road

Some idea of the work that has been carried out at the Uxbridge Road office was given to the Bureau council by Reg Neal, the staff representative on the Council (Jan 1940)

The Hayes bureau is also dealing with letters to persons in enemy countries

The Hayes CAB had dealt with 155 cases since it opened of which 36 related too allowances for soldiers wives

On the question of service men's pay Reg Neal said

"a woman with one child could not live on 17s allowance, with 7s from her husband and 5s for her child (29s a week) The work of the bureau was to obtain extra allowances to which they were entitled...people were frightened of filling up forms and the help the bureau was able to give them made all the difference to their lives"

Reg Neal was at this point a prominent member of the Labour Party (later joining the Communist Party after serving WW2 in the RAF.

Note:
No CAB in Hillingdon today

Hillingdon Legal Resource Centre, based in Hayes
(in the 1980's funded by the GLC)

Miss Ruth Harrison
Pioneering Woman Councillor Slough

February 1940, James Maxton (Socialist MP) and the Mayor of Slough Alderman E.T. Bowyer were witnesses on Saturday 17th February 1940 at the wedding of Miss Ruth Harrison (Socialist/Labour) Slough Councillor,only daughter of Mr & Mrs R.B. Harrison of Farnham Road, Slough and her husband James Stanley Porter, the second son of Mr J. H. Porter of Windsor Road, Slough.

Miss Harrison has made it known that in her public work, she still wants to be known by her maiden name.

It is the first time there has been a Councillor's wedding in the Town

Advertiser & Gazette 23rd February 1940.

New Woman Mayor 1973

Alderman Mrs W. Pomeroy succeeded Labour's Robert John Came as Mayor of the London Borough of Hillingdon

It is the second time Mrs Pomeroy has been Mayor, previously for Uxbridge Urban District Council

Mrs Pomeroy was the second mayor of Hillingdon, the first being the Conservative Alderman Lila Wane in 1968

The new deputy Mayor will be Councillor John Walters, who lives with his wife and six children at Skipton Drive, Hayes

Hayes & Harlington Labour Party Officers 1973

Councillor Ted Harris succeeds party vetran Bert Hann as Hayes & Harlington President.

Mr Harris sees his job as to forge closer ties with the trade union movement particularly in this year of the Greater London council elections.

The GLC candidate for Hayes is Councillor Peter Russell the vice chairman of Hillingdon Council Education Committee.

Ernie Wiltshire and Mrs O. Garvin (wife of former Hillingdon Mayor Ossie Garvin) were both elected as Vice Presidents.

Dudley Targett remains as Constituency Secretary and Stanley Chilton as Party Treasurer

Mick Martin is election agent

-------------------------------------------
NOTE:
Councillor Robert John Came, Labour Mayor of Hillingdon, reported on his visit the three towns the London Borough of Hillingdon are "twinned with"
Mantes la Jolie in France
Shleswig and Emden in Germany

The links with Scleswig seem to have lasted longer with links with the SPD (Socialist) being maintained.

Israel Ellis deserves a major place in any history of Hayes,

Israel Ellis was the pioneering headmaster at Hayes School for Jewish boys

Mr Ellis had originally in charge of the East London Industrial School for Jewish boys in Lewisham (closed circa 1923 and moved to the LCC Industrial School, Mayford near Woking).

However when the Jewish Industrial school at Hayes was officially opened in February 1901 and Mr Ellis became the first headmaster.

The school introduced a new method of educating delinquent and neglected Jewish children - a high standard of elementary and technical teaching in a free atmosphere being the chief characteristics. Until then it was customary to exploit child labour in the reformatory and industrial schools, in order to eke out the meagre grant made to them.

The average cost of maintaining a child was about £21 per Annam, at Hayes it began at £48 but stabilised at £38 per Annam, the Jewish community finding the necessary money. Today 1929 it is £96 per Annam

Soon after the school opened Mr Ellis organised the athletics side of the school and became Hon ray Secretary of the Home Counties Home Office Schools Association

In 1901 the society of Headmasters and Matrons of Reformatory school was founded and Mr Ellis became its vice president and president for several years.

He was regularly quoted in the Times Educational Supplement

During World War 1 he was chair of the Hayes Tribunal under the Compulsory Service Act , a body which decided who would be called up. He was also Chairman of the Food Committee

His eldest son was an officer in the Royal Engineers Signalling Corps and served in France and Germany.

Ellis was awarded an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) medal in 1929 new years honours.

He served as an "Independent" councillor on Hayes Parish Council and Hayes Urban District Council from 1901, often being the only non Labour councillor on the council, but working closely with the Labour Party on issues such as housing.

Reginald Francis Orlando Bridgeman

Born 14th October 1884 eldest son of Colonel the Hon. Francis Bridgeman

His father had been Member of Parliament for Bolton and ended his military career as Brigadier General.

Reginald Bridgeman was educated at Harrow, but left aged 16 to study languages in France and Germany.

In 1903 he was appointed honary attaché to the British Embassy in Madrid, later he was posted to Paris, later as Private Secretary to Sir Francis Bertie in 1912. Brdgeman as a up and comingdiplomat attended and was involved in the Paris Peace Congress. In July 1918 he was appointed as a Civil Service First Secretary (and a member of Association of Upper Division Civil Servants) .

Bridgeman was posted to Vienna, Austria and would later state he was greatly impressed by the Working Class (Socialist) control of the City, the use of the Imperial Palace and Gardens of Schoenbrunn to house the homeless and feed the starving children of the City. This he recalled "opened his eyes to the practicality of socialism"

Khan in 1921. Later that year the Soviet Bridgeman was then posted to Iran in 1920, and it was here he witnessed the Coup of RezaBridgeman took a controversially position in attending attendingEmbassy's commemoration of the October Revolution.

His attendance was labelled “One of the most shocking episodes in modern history” and Bridgeman was recalled to London (visiting India, and studying illiteracy and poverty rates) on the way back by Lord Curzon, where he was finally pensioned off by the Civil Service in July 1923.


Bridgeman moved to Pinner in 1922, and in 1924 Bridgeman was active in the founding of Pinner Labour Party branch of Hendon Labour Party (and Chairman of Hendon Constituency in March 1927)

Bridgeman's politics were confirmed when in 1923 he married Miss Olwen Elizabeth Jones, of Pinner, West London, the daughter of a Chemist and active in Labour movement.


Bridgeman showed his continued support to the Communist Party by organising annual Sunday Worker Garden parties between 1927 to 1932 at Waxwell Lane, Pinner (Where he had built 14 houses at affordable rent). Sunday worker banners would be tied across the street to the alarm of local Tories.

During the General strike of 1926 Bridgeman was involved with the Wealdstone Trades Council and it's strike bulletin (ref 4 editions at Hull University)

In 1926 he was appointed along with A. M. Wall, Secretary of the London Trades Union Council to be joint Secretary of the British Labour Council for Chinese Freedom and had become active in the formation of the Chinese Information Bureau and “Hands of China” campaigns.

In February 1927 Bridgeman attended the Congress of Oppressed Nationalities in Brussels, (organised by Eili Muzenburg) which resulted in the formation of the League Against Imperialism, Bridgeman becoming Honorary Secretary in 1933

It is probably for his work within the League Against Imperialism that Bridgeman is best known

The LAI was a vital part of the anti colonial struggle, producing numerous publications
Cypriot News (Kypriaka Nea)

It is therefore hardly surprising that Bridgeman was heavily involved in the Meerut trial 1929-1933 of trade union leaders in India including Shaukat Usmani

Bridgeman was selected as the popular Labour candidate to fight the Uxbridge constituency at the 1929 general election.

Threw himself into constituency , cycling everywhere, speaking everywhere and even fly posting
Bridgeman recalled that “The people are naturally conservative and opposed to any change, so that progress is more difficult than one might expect”

Bridgeman stood on a platform of
Pay rises,
Shorter Working hours,
2 weeks holiday paid,
Raise school leaving to 16,
Pensions,
Abolition of overseas bases,
Outlaw war,
Self determination for colonies,
Full diplomatic relations with Soviet Union,
Abolition House of Lords

Bridgeman was also a member of the Pinner General & Municipal Workers Union branch and Southall Labour Club


At the 1929 general election Labour's vote in Uxbridge rose from 8,459 to 16,422 and the Tory vote slashed to a 1,348 majority

In the election of 1929 Bridgeman had been helped by the local Southall Communist Party (ref Hull University records)

When LAI was made a prescribed organisation by the Labour party, because of its links with the Communist party Bridgeman had no choice but to stand as a "Workers Candidate" for Uxbridge
a Southall section of the League against imperialism was established to support Bridgeman.
“Your vote is one weapon, class might be another
Polled 2,358

Bridgeman was readmitted to the Labour party in 1937 and selected as candidate for Hendon but resigned and was later expelled from the Labour Party for supporting the Communist Party backed "People's Convention" in 1941

During the war he was involved with the establishment of a Yiewsley Communist Party branch. Tragically his eldest son was killed in serve during WW2

Between 1949 and 1951 he was national treasurer of the National Council for Civil Liberties NCCL


While Bridgeman was never a card carrying member of the Communist party he was certainly a "fellow traveller" and was very close to harry Pollitt. Bridgeman himself stated

“Communist influence is gaining ground throughout the world, Social Democracy represented by the ILP, LP, TUC in close co-operation with Federation of British Industries is a waining force, while the masses everywhere are revolting against capitalism”

Died 11th December 1968