A Vision of Hayes 1946 - Transport terminal

Hayes Communist Party plans for a transport terminal in Hayes for Hayes UDC Elections 1946

Frank Stanley

Frank Stanley Frank Stanley (pictured above addressing the 1967 Communist Party Congress at Camden Town hall and left in one of his election addresses)   Frank Stanley was born in 1920 in Acton. His father was an active trade unionist and steward.  At the end of life in his junior school, Frank won a scholarship to the local Grammar School. But, because his father was unemployed at the time and unable to afford the loss of wage to the family, or the cost of a uniform, he was unable to take his place and eventually left school at the age of 14. In 1937 he joined the Young Communist League and in 1940 became a full member of the Communist Party, in the same year he married his wife Joan who he met through the YCL and with whom he would have two daughters. From 1942-1946 he served in the REME (14th Army) for three and a half years in Burma and became a Warrant Officer. An instrument maker by trade, he started work at EMI Hayes in 1950 and became an Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) steward the following year. From 1959 he was AEU convenor and Secretary of the Joint Stewards Committee, negotiating on behalf of 6,000 workers at EMI.  In February 1962 a one day strike took place at EMI at which a number of scuffles with police broke out. The local MP was to state that, in Blythe Road, Hayes, the police "appeared to encourage them to drive at the pickets".  That March 700 AEU members marched from Hayes to Southall protesting at the Government imposed a "Pay Pause". They were addressed by Mr Sheeny convenor at Alladin's factory. The local paper refers to a Wally Hannington, a retired Jarrow engineer being present on the march. This must be Wal Hannington (1896-1966), former AEU and National Unemployed Workers Movement organiser (See entry for Hannington). Stanley was Chairman of West Middlesex District Committee of the Communist Party and national chair of the Communist Party’s Central Committee and was a pallbearer at Willie Gallacher’s funeral in 1965. Frank Stanley lived in Hayes and was the Communist Party candidate for Hayes & Harlington constituency on a number of occasions. In his first attempt in the General Election of October 1964, he stood on a platform of:  1) Put yourself before the Monopolies and land speculators 2) Vote to abolish nuclear weapons 3) Break the American grip on our country  He also featured a campaign for a branch line linking Hayes with the Central or Piccadilly Underground line). Frank and the local Communists canvassed over 16,000 houses in Hayes during this election and John Gollan, Communist Party general secretary, spoke at his adoption meeting on Monday 14th September at the Civic Restaurant, Coldharbour Lane. He was one of 36 Communist parliamentary candidates at the 1964 election and took part in the Communist Party Election rally at Hyde Park and march to the BBC to demand air time on Sunday, September 13th. He also appeared in the Communist Party’s election broadcast in the following General election. Frank Stanley was also active in  the promotion of the Trades Union Congress inspired Centre 42 arts programme in 1962 (named after the arts resolution number on the agenda at TUC Congress), Centre 42 "aimed to provide an outlet for cultural ambitions and entertainment of the ordinary person" The public face of which was Arnold Wesker and toured Britain visiting Hayes and Southall November 19th - 24th, 1962, this stop included the first presentation of "Enter Solly Gold" by Bernard Cops, a Youth Theatre production of "Hamlet", Music Theatre presented "The Soldiers Tale” and the "Nottingham Captain", a Jazz band, poetry reading, photograph exhibition, drawings, folk singing including Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. Ill-health forced Stanley to retire to Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Peter Pink 1929 - 2012

Peter Pink
Morning Star & Hayes Communist

Peter Pink was born in 1929 at Stockwell, South London. His father was a policeman, leading to Peter being born in the police wing of Putney hospital. His father was posted to Southall in 1932 and the family consequently moved to Hayes, West Middlesex. He joined the Young Communist League in 1945 and the Communist Party in 1947 and, in time, became the Secretary of Hayes Communist Party. Peter Pink was born in 1929 at Stockwell, South London. His father was a policeman, leading to Peter being born in the police wing of Putney hospital. His father was posted to Southall in 1932 and the family consequently moved to Hayes, West Middlesex. He joined the Young Communist League in 1945 and the Communist Party in 1947 and, in time, became the Secretary of Hayes Communist Party. Amongst many successful meetings the Communist Party in Hayes organised was one with the Civil Rights leader Sean Morrisey (Chairman of the Turf Lodge Residents Association and education officer of the ATGWU) held in February 1972. Peter worked at EMI and was Chairman of Hayes branch of the Clerical Workers Union (then CAWU, later APEX, now part of GMB). For much of this period, Peter lived at 35 Camden Avenue, Hayes, later he moved to 1 Hambledon Close, Hillingdon. His sister was Labour councillor in Yeading Ward, Hayes. He was the Advertising Manager of the Morning Star for a while but Peter Pink is perhaps best known for having been the writer of the Morning Star’s daily Peoples’ Press Fighting Fund column during the nineteen eighties and nineties. Peter died in 2012.

Jimmy Reid - Hayes 1961

Jimmy Reid Young Communist League (YCL)
National Secretary speaking at West Middlesex YCL rally, Hayes November 1961.

EMI Hayes 1953

HAYES EMI

COMMUNIST PARTY FACTORY REPORT 1953

From the work inside our factory, and especially from the movement around redundancy and the wages campaign, in which our factory were the leaders in that part of West Middlesex, we have learned that it would "have been impossible for us to have achieved such a level of activity, to have so influenced the course of events in other factories, without the existence of a Communist Party branch which was recognised and known in the factory as a public force.

Inside our factory there are 100 shop stewards, of whom only eight are members of the Communist Party, yet invariably, on all major questions, the standpoint of the Shop Stewards Committee is a progressive one, and it was possible to win some 5,000 signatures in the factory on the demands against rearmament, for a Five Power Peace Pact and for the defeat of the Tory Government. It is obviously not just a question of voting strength, especially when you consider that the attendance at the fortnightly shop stewards' meeting is round about fifty. It is because the Party has become known through the public meetings it has conducted outside the factory, where the convenor is known as a Party member, who speaks for the Party outside and inside the factory.

That is the basis on which we have been able to make this contribution towards the broader movement on wages and redundancy. But we have now reached a stage for some time where we know that if the policy of the Tory Government is not to be more heavily and sharply felt in Hayes, there is one essential and necessary condition, and that is, the building up of the Communist Party.

Inside the factory we are proud of the contribution we have made over the past twelve months; but we recognise serious weaknesses in the way we have not faced up to the building of the Party. In twelve months, up to the annual meeting of our branch last May, we had increased our Party membership by 25 per cent.

This was in a period of a number of outstanding events, including the formation of an "Anti-Tory Committee" at the time of the elections in 1951, which the Shop Stewards Committee elected and which formulated its own points of policy, and spoke outside the factory along with the local candidates for Uxbridge and Hounslow on the policy of the Shop Stewards Committee.

The No. 1 Question

Since May 1952 we have only been able to increase membership from thirty-eight to forty-one inside the factory. Yet that period is one in which we have had tremendous opportunities and possibilities. The work of our, Party Branch, its activity, has not been on a lower level. On the contrary, it has been much higher; the Party Branch has issued leaflets, held more meetings, and the work of our Communist stewards has been improved. Yet in spite of this, we have not had the growth that we expected, and it is because we have always supposed that the question of Party building is the last thing instead of the first.

Frank Stanley World News & Views in May 1953

Note workforce at Hayes EMI about 6,000

Daily Worker January 1st 1930

The Daily Worker, (now the Morning Star) was the organ of the Communist Party, The first edition was produced on 1 January 1930 from the offices of the newspaper at 41 Tabernacle Street, London. In January 1934 The Daily Worker's offices move to Cayton Street off the City Road. On 1 October 1935, the first eight page Daily Worker was produced.

The Daily Worker offices at Cayton Street were totally destroyed by fire during German bombing on Wednesday 16 April 1941. The Daily Worker moved temporarily in 1942 to the former Caledonian Press offices in Swinton Street (from where the old Communist Party Sunday Worker had been printed until 1929). In 1945 new offices were acquired at a former brush makers warehouse at 75 Farringdon Road, London EC1 for the sum of £48,000 (picture left). A Scottish edition of the Daily Worker was produced from its plant in Glasgow starting on 11 November 1940.

31st October 1948 was acclaimed by the Communist Party's General Secretary, Harry Pollitt, as the 'greatest and proudest day' in the Daily Worker's history; for a revamped Daily Worker came off the new Goss press in the new building in Farringdon Road. A torchlight procession of 20,000 demonstrators stopped all traffic as crowds surged round Bill Rust and carried him shoulder-high to Clerkenwell Green, where he auctioned the first two copies for the staggering sum of £45 each (perhaps £1,500 to £2,000 today!). Next day, he received a telegram from George Loveless, a descendant of the 1834 Tolpuddle Martyrs: 'Today is a proud day for us all. This is what our ancestors fought for. Long live the people's paper.'

Since September 1945 the paper has been owned and published by a readers' Co-operative, the People's Press printing Society, which operates on a one-vote-per-shareholder basis. The last edition of the Daily Worker came out on Saturday 23 April 1966, being re-launched as the Morning Star, the first edition of which appeared the following Monday, 25 April 1966.

The Daily Worker's last editorial stated

"On Monday this newspaper takes its greatest step forward for many years. It will be larger, it will be better and it will have a new name.......During its 36 years of life our paper has stood for all that is best in British working-class and Socialist journalism. It has established a reputation for honesty, courage and integrity. It has defended trade unionists, tenants, pensioners. It has consistently stood for peace. It has always shown the need for Socialism. Let all Britain see the Morning Star, the inheritor of a great tradition and the herald of a greater future".

Daily Worker Editors

Ben Benfield 2009-
John Haylett 1995-2009
Tony Chater 1974-1995
George Mathews 1959-1974
J.R. Campbell 1949-1959
William Rust 1930-1949



(William Rust picture right)

William "Bill" Rust
born 24th April 1903
Camberwell, South London
Editor Daily Worker 1930-1949
died 3 February 1949
William Rust was the son of Frederick George Rust and Elizabeth Rust

Reg Neal

R.P. Neal was a popular local teacher at Yeading Junior School. Neal was secretary of the Hayes Left Book Club which he established in October 1937.

Active in local Aid to Spain movement in the late 1930's and based at the Hayes Labour Hall.

He became Chairman of the local ward Labour Party in the late 1930’s.

Reg Neal joined the Communist Party just prior to the start of the war.

During the war he served in the Royal Air Force in North Africa, rising to the rank of Flying Officer.

His prominent role in local campaigns, war record (he campaigned in his RAF uniform) and good looks (according to Joyce Mansfield) contributed to him being the most successful candidate in the local elections of 1946, missing a seat by less than 100 votes.

He was involved in the establishment of Hayes Workers Education Association in 1946.

His appointment in October 1950 to the Headship of Bounds Green School, led to Conservative controlled Middlesex County Council refusing to endorse his appointment, and then imposing a blanket ban on the appointment of Communists

In October 1950, Middlesex County Council Tory dominated Education Committee refused to endorse the appointment of Reg Neal of Yeading Junior School, Hayes to the Headship of Bounds Green School, and then imposed a blanket ban on appointment of Communists Headships in the County.

The leading opponent of the Communists was the Conservative Chairman of the Education Committee, Alderman Archer Hoare, a supporter of the anti-Communist campaigning group, 'Common Cause'

The attack on Reg Neal was a direct result of the activities of the famous Acton CommunistG.C.T Giles was a committed Communist party member and headmaster of Acton County School from 1926 to 1956. He became a member of the Executive of the National Union of Teachers and eventually its national President

Alderman Hoare regularly attacked G.C.T Giles accusing him of Communist indoctrination in the school.

The ban in Middlesex dragged on for seven years. National Union of Teachers blacklisting of posts proved ineffective, and it was not until Labour won control of Middlesex County Council in 1958 that ban was overturned


In May 1958 the Uxbridge Advertiser & Gazette reported that the seven year ban on Communist's being appointed head teachers was to be rescinded by the incoming Labour administration at Middlesex County council

At a meeting of the Middlesex County Council Education Committee on Monday 12th May 1958 recommended that the County Council remove the ban.

The resolution was moved by County alderman J. Barrow, Leader of the Labour Group on the Education committee. He stated that Middlesex Countuy Council was the only education authority to the country to apply the ban which served no useful purpose and was condemned by all the teachers associations (unions).

It was reported that for many years teachers in Middlesex had passed resolutions deploring the ban, which was imposed seven years ago at a time when Hayes teacher, known as a communist had been selected for a head teacher post.

The Conservatives opposed, Sir Archer Hoare stating "it would be an error of judgement to remove this resolution which had worked smoothly for seven years"

The teacher was Reg Neal of Yeading Junior School, who was selected for headship of a Wood Green School but owing to the ban Middlesex County was subsequently rescinded the appointment Mr Reg Neal eventually resigned from his post under Middlesex County Council and obtained a headship in Sheffield.

When the resolution to rescind the ban on Communist Party head teachers was moved by Councillor J. Barrow and put to the vote by Alderman (woman) Mrs M.R. Forbes it was carried by 36 votes to 17

Report from Uxbridge Advertiser & Gazette Friday May 16th, 1958

NOTE:
URGENT REQUEST Any further information on this highly regarded, popular teacher and communist most welcome

The Daily Worker

The Daily Worker (now Morning Star) first edition was printed on January 1st 1930 and the papers head office was at 41 Tabernacle Street, London.

Today, The Morning Star is the only English daily Socialist paper in the world was sold for many years on the Station Bridge, Hayes (daily) and later outside Sainsburys in Hayes town centre on a Saturday. The Daily Worker was also sold outside and inside many of the engineering factories.

At Fairey for example, copies would be placed on the bench of a supporter and workers would come along throughout the day to purchase a copy.

In Uxbridge the Daily Worker (Morning Star) was sold outside Uxbridge underground station.

Given the newspaper distribution companies refused to carry the Daily Worker. Supporter were forced to build an incredible and elaborate network to get the paper to supporter for the morning. This often required early starts to meet allotted trains and long bicycle rides to deliver to households and factories.

The Sunday Worker was started in 1925

Two Saily Worker staff members were killed during the Spanish Civil War, Ralph Fox and Walter "Tappy" Tapsell

The Record of a Memorable Visit
Paris July 1947 Bastille Day
Communist Party of Great Britain

July 14th, Bastille Day, besides being a national holiday is a day of special significance for the people of France.

Many historic dates stand out in the chronicle of the great French Revolution, but Republican France chooses to celebrate the anniversary of July 14th, 1789.

On that day the people of Paris, impatient at the fruitless debates in the Estates General, rose in mass and stormed the fortress-prison of the Bastille, in whose dungeons were chained the heroes of their struggle for freedom.

The people, having struck the first decisive blow of the Revolution, carried it forward to victory. Thus began a revolutionary tradition which has been the motive force of French history in the past 150 years.

The spirit of the Bastille lived in the citizens who marched to battle singing the "Marseillaise" to defend their Revolution against foreign armies.

This was the spirit of 1830 and 1848, of the Paris Communards who "stormed heaven" in 1871 and of the heroic men and women of the Resistance.

This is the France we saw in the Place de la Republique on.that memorable Monday afternoon, the France of the Communist Party with its 75,000 martyrs.


Our British Communist Party is proud, to send 750 of its members to take part in this revolution anniversary,

Those of us who had the honour to be there should be keenly aware of the importance of visit

Here is the spirit of our trip caught in a moment. (Photo Left)

The frontier are down, language problems are forgotten. British and French unite in common understanding

The vast crowds who greeted our slogans saw in us, the living symbol of the forces in our country which will ensure that Britain's influence in the world will be used on the side of democratic advances for all nations.

We were the ambassadors of the real Britain to which they look with confidence and hope.

The value of such visits was well expressed "by the Secretary of the Party Committee of the 18th Arrondisseraent in his speech to us: "Friendly understanding between the common people of all lands will tear down the frontiers which the capitalist rulers erect in order to divide us, to create ill-feeling between us as part of their preparations for war."

Now that we are home again, we must make use of the lessons we learned in France. To bring into every aspect of our work here that enthusiasm and devotion which we felt there

To work to bring about that understanding and solidarity with the working class of mother lands which will help us to advance with them to happiness, prosperity' and lasting peace

TO SOCIALISM

(Photo Right) Friday's crossing. The English summer escorted us over the channel, but a sing song is a great tonic for sea sickness






(Photo Left) What's the first thing you look for in France ? why, L'Humanite of course


(Photo missing)
The Communist Deputy of Dieppe, Lucie Guerin, greets the British visitors with a handshake for John Gollen of our Executive Committee




"Friendship with our Allies but no submission to Dollar Imperialism" A slogan which was greeted with all along the route (Photo Right)















(Photo Above Left) The big day - July 14th
The march to the Assembly point near the Bastille




(Photo Right) The delegates of the Executive Committee and members of District Committees lead the march past the tribune. A storm of cheers: "Vive le peuple anglais", "Vive L'Angletere democratique". People reach out to shake our hands. Some of our comrades are so filled with emotion that tears are streaming down their cheeks.



(Photo Left) The contingent of the Union of French girls carry a picture of Danielle Casanova, martyr of the Resistance. Here is a symbol of great hope of France's future. "No more tears. Unite and fight for a better future. We shall build happy homes in a lasting peace"





(Photo Right) Men in little skirts, as the French called them serenade the statue of the Republic. "The Daily Worker greets L'Humanite, France's greatest newspaper"











(Photo Left) Perhaps you can see yourself here........
(Photo Below Right) or here......



















(Photo Left) The ceremony of laying the wreath. Next to John Gollan stands the President of the "Committee of the Flame", French ex servicemen who maintain a permanent guard of honour at the tomb.





(Missing Photo) The wreath "From the British Communists to their brothers-in-arms", which we placed on the tomb of France's unknown warrior

Hayes and the Irish

Ireland and The Hayes Labour Movement

The Labour movement in Hayes, has always taken a keen intrest in Irish freedom and the first meeting in the Borough can be traced backed to a Quaker meeting in Uxbridge in the 1880's. Which reported on a delegation to Ireland.

The first Labour candidate for Uxbridge Constituency (including Hayes) Harry Gosling called for Irish independence in his election address.

John Ryan MP for Uxbridge in the 1960's was an active supporter of the Irish Civil Rights Association


In February 1972, the Hayes Communist Party organised a meeting (According to Peter Pink one of their best) with Sean Morrisey as speaker. Civil rights leader and Chairman of the Turf Lodge Residents Association, he was also an Executive Committee member of the Communist Party.

Sean Morrisey, hit out at the British Army claiming “They shot down these people in Derry and thought that they’d finished us”

"But the struggle continued, he said doubting that a solution to the problems could be brought about by violence” – either by the Army or the IRA."

It was stated that, Mr Morrisey who lives in Belfast with his wife and three children continued “Although the civil rights movement supports the aims and objectives of the IRA, we do not support their methods."

“If we thought they could succeed we would all be members ourselves, We’re trying to get political action and bring northern Ireland back on the political platform"

"We don’t think any elitist group will about political changes in northern Ireland, it depends on the masses"

Mr Morrisey also attacked the Stormont Government.

Not only had the government failed to provide employment – 11% were out of work
but also to provide normal amenities

"If unionism and democracy cant exist together, one of them has to go, and its not going to be democracy"



The Irish trade union movement also came in for criticism but he said “the trade union movement is the one common platform which could bring the two sections of the community together”Chairman Mr Peter Pink said his Party endorsed the speakers view


Mr Morrisey returned home on Saturday following the meeting on Thursday at Townfield School. He was one of two Civil Rights leaders to visit Britain.s

Sean Morrisey Education Officer for Ireland Amalgamated Transport & General Workers Union
Speaking in 1980 he stated " When we explain the actual reasons for unemployment and the worsening living conditions to the workers, we show them that vital problems can be resolved not by patching up contradictions but by fundamentally changining the present socio-economic system, Our Party's strength lies in its ability to bring this truth home to the people"


the leader of the Labour Group and Hayes Parliamentary Labour Candiate was Peter Fagan, born in Dublin
In the 1980's a delegation of Sinn Fein Councillors were invited to various meetings in Hayes and to meet the Labour group Councillors, the delegation included Barbara de Brun (then Barbara Brown).

John McDonnell has used his position on the GLC and in the House of Commons to continue this tradition, including the GLC funding of the Hillingdon Irish Centre

Frank Stanley - Hayes Communist Party

Frank Stanley

Frank Stanley was born in 1920 in Acton. His father was an active trade unionist and steward. At the end of life in his junior school, Frank won a scholarship to the local Grammar School. But, because his father was unemployed at the time and unable to afford the loss of wage to the family, or the cost of a uniform, he was unable to take his place and eventually left school at the age of 14.

In 1937 he joined the Young Communist League and in 1940 became a full member of the Communist Party, in the same year he married his wife Joan who he met through the YCL and with whom he would have two daughters.

From 1942-1946 he served in the R.E.M.E. (14th Army) for three and a half years in Burma and became a Warrant Officer. An instrument maker by trade, he started work at EMI Hayes in 1950 and became an Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) steward the following year. From 1959 he was AEU convenor and Secretary of the Joint Stewards Committee, negotiating on behalf of 6,000 workers at EMI.

In February 1962 a one day strike took place at EMI at which a number of scuffles with police broke out. The local MP was to state that, in Blythe Road, Hayes, the police "appeared to encourage them to drive at the pickets".

That March 700 AEU members marched from Hayes to Southall protesting at the Government imposed a"Pay Pause". They were addressed by Mr Sheeny

convenor at Alladin's factory. The local paper refers to a Wally Hannington, a retired Jarrow engineer being present on the march. This must be Wal Hannington (1896-1966), former AEU and National Unemployed Workers Movement organiser (See entry for Hannington).

Stanley was Chairman of West Middlesex District Committee of the Communist
Party and national chair of the Communist Party’s Central Committee and was a pallbearer at Willie Gallacher’s funeral in 1965.

Frank Stanley, lived in Hayes and was the Communist Party candidate for
 

Hayes and Harlington constituency on a number of occasions, in his first attempt in the General Election of October 1964, standing on a platform of:

1) Put yourself before the Monopolies and land speculators
2) Vote to abolish nuclear weapons
3) Break the American grip on our country

He also featured a campaign for a branch line linking Hayes with the Central or Piccadilly Underground line). Frank and the local Communists canvassed over 16,000 houses in Hayes during this election and John Gollan, Communist Party general secretary, spoke at his adoption meeting on Monday 14th September at the Civic Restaurant, Coldharbour Lane.

He was one of 36 Communist parlimentary candidates at the 1964 election and took part in the Communist Party Election rally at Hyde Park and march to the BBC to demand air time on Sunday, September 13th. He also appeared in the Communist Party’s election broadcast in the following General election.

Centre 42

Frank Stanley was also active in the promotion of the Trades Union Congress inspired Centre 42 arts programme in 1962 (named after the arts resolution number on the agenda at TUC Congress), Centre 42 "aimed to provide an outlet for cultural ambitions and entertainment of the ordinary person" The public face of which was Arnold Wesker and toured Britain visiting Hayes and Southall November 19th - 24th, 1962, this stop included the first presentation of "Enter Solly Gold" by Bernard Cops, a Youth Theatre production of "Hamlet", Music Theatre presented "The Soldiers Tale” and the "Nottingham Captain", a Jazz band, poetry reading, photograph exhibition, drawings, folk singing including Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger.

Frank moved on retirement to Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Michael Walker