London Clarion Club House - Nazeing - Essex

LONDON CLARION CLUB HOUSE

NAZEING - ESSEX

(UPDATED ARTICLE 2010)

The Clarion Cycling Club was established in 1895 by readers of the socialist weekly newspaper the Clarion.

Romford Clarion's were obviously very well organised and used the opportunity of the 1911 coronation to organise a Clarion Cycling Camp (June 22, 1911).

So successful was the Camp that in order to "escape the renewed searching for sites, the Sabbatarian rules and regulations of the English Sunday, and the smoke and turmoil of the Metropolis", the London Clarion Cycling section decided at a meeting on September 15th, 1912, to secure a Clarion Club House of their own.

The London Clarion Cycling Club entered into possession of the London Clarion Club House at Broadley Common, near Nazeing, Essexat Whitsun, 1913, and very soon established itself as the rallying point for the cyclists and the London Clarion Fellowship.

The London Clarion

Club House is in the hamlet of Broadley Common, near Nazeing, Essex (opposite the Black Horse, with the Sun a few yards away). It was about 17 miles from the G.P.O. and was said to be situated amongst picturesque rural surroundings, (close to mushroom fields) and near to the famous Epping Forest, the open moorland of Nazeing Common, and the historical neighbourhood of Rye House, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross, Ware and Hertford.

The club house advantages is being miles from anywhere or anywhere else, having an orchard, a kitchin garden a triangular field - the apex given over in WW1 to growing war potato - a barn converted to dancing and seeping. a lean to shed contacting a baby billiard table and several billiard sharps, a dinning room, a reading room, a kitchen and two stewardesses (Clarion 24th August 1917)

In 1914 the Clarion hadbook stated "Extensive developments on the estate are contemplated, and all interested Clarionettes and Socialist

s can assist by taking up 2s. 6d. shares in the Society. General Secretary : Jack Hinton, 5, Vine Street, Romford."

CLARION REPORT 1917

One reaches the Clarion Club House- or at least this one did – in a side car that started life as a cradle, but, developing ambitions, was tacked alongside a B.S.A. three and half horse power motor cycle as a reward for its enterprise. It is a good side car, but cramped. George said – George was my chauffer – George said that if I tucked the cushion well on the small of my back and kept a watchful eye on the nut that was responsible for the perfect companionship of the side car and the cycle, we might probably arrive at the club house together.

In appearance George looks the very perfect model of a prize Sunday school scholar. Instead of which he blinds along the something over the legal, and yet possesses an air of guileless innocence that would deceive a special. In extenuation, I am bound to admit that he disappointed many would be suicides, and that in thickest traffic and along the wood paved tramway track I never felt a qualm, But when we bumped over a nasty stretch at at Hoddeson and swung around into by lanes were the surface showed signs of war weariness, and that cushion had slipped its position, I began to pray that there engine would “knock” or that I was seated in the well sprung side car of my own “King Dick” But we arrived.

When one arrives at the Nazeing Clarion club house one is greeted by a man who is known as “Rick”, “Rich” or “Old man” as the mood dictates. He takes one round the demense and utters little essays on club house management, art, motor cycles, finance or any other subject that comes into his head. He is apparently responsible for seeing that seeing that the stranger shall cease to be a stranger. He also plays the piano when the others want to sing or to dance. his full name is,I believe is Richardson.

Another chap there- worthy son of a worthy sire – is Cyril Hinton – he wanders around as though the whole show was a fearful bore; but is the secretary, chief gardener, finance department and general organiser. You may call him what you will so long as you pay your dues and do not ask for Ritz accommodation at club house prices.

Then there are the stewardesses. I fancy I have mentioned them before. You do not call them at all. They call you. They call you after they have cooked a dinner for twenty five people – with vegetarians thrown in – on a stove and within the kitchen accommodation that was originally intended for a family of five. How they do it I don’t known but you get a second helping if the first is not enough.

They don’t say grace at the Clarion Club house There is no need. The stewardesses would grace any function; and then have enough spare to keep a house cheerful.

For the rest; the members and visitors are Clarionettes with the usual amount of Clarion cheerfulness and sense of responsibility and a determination to get as much out of life as is possible. For London Clarion Club House is in the making, and everyone knows that a club house in the making is the happiest, jolliest cheeriest kind of place that one can go to.

The house at Broadley Common stands in a good position for scenery and there are plenty of interesting beauty spots within easy ride. When theses, are the cyclist are exhausted he can return to the beauties of the Club house and be sure of a good fare and entertainment at their hands

Tom Groom Clarion 24^th August 1917

The Romford Clarion Club House closed at the end of 1920. The building still exists, although much altered, as a private residence.

The Romford Clarion Cycling club emerged as the the 1930's

Dagenham & Romford Clarion Cycling Club 1937

Chairman: Alfred S Haddock

Secretary: C. Ayrton 13 Treswell Road

, Dagenham

Asst Secretary: L. Lovelock 126 Flamstead Road, Dagenham

Racing Secretary: E. Penegelley 34 Woodstock Avenue Harold Park, Romford

NOTE
Details of the Club House are to be found in the National Clarion Club Year Book for 1914 and 1937 Clarion Handbook

Denis Pye book on the Clarion Cycling Club, Fellowship is Life

CLARION SOCIALIST YOUTH HOSTEL - HODDESDON

The Clarion Socialist Youth Hostel was established in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire from the early 1933 by the London Labour League of Youth and was used by the Labour Party until at least the 1950's. (picture 1934 Hoddesdon Clarion Socialist youth Hostel).

The hostel was set in ten acres of grounds, with two pavilions, tennis courts, sports facilities for lecturers, classes and even a library,

In 1934 over thirteen thousand Labour League of Youth members (The League had over five hundred branches) camped at Hoddesdon.

Grace Oakden states

"We had a great deal of fun in those days as as serious politicking"

"Labour of Youth branches from all over London used to go there at weekends, camping. There was a big house there we used to have a wonderful times at weekends there. discussions at night, quite a big social programme, dances, a wonderful way of meeting people from London"

A picture is available (http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk) of the Clarion Youth Hostel van starts for Hoddesdon (Herbert Morrison on right), 1934. Herbert Morrison, (1888–1965) was a British Labour Party politician and Cabinet minister. Morrison held various cabinet posts, including Foreign Secretary, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Secretary.

Arthur Ramette (1897-1988) - French Hero

Arthur Ramette (Arthur Ream)

Arthur Jean Baptiste Ramette was born 12 October 1897 in Caudry (Nord) Northern France.

He went to work aged 12, by the age of 14 he was an apprentice engineer (setting and forging)

During WW1 Caudry was occupied by the Germans and Ramette refusal to work for them lead him to receive two month imprisonments in 1918

As a young man Ramette was an active trade unionist and became secretary of the CGT metal workers union of Cambresis

In 1919 he joined the Socialist Party of France, and became Caudry branch secretary and soon after founder member of a committee which was agitating for the admission of that body to the Communist International ( "Comité pour l'adhésion à la III Internationale - Committee for membership of the (third) International"). Ramette at the Congress of Tours in 1920 was one of the majority which adhered to the International

In 1919 he became secretary of the CGT Metal at Caudry,

By 1922 Ramette had become Secretary of the Communist party in Caudry

in 1924 Ramette made acquaintance with Thorez, then secretary of the Northern region of the Communist party and the two men were closely linked from then on.

Ramette was appointed Communist Party Regional secretary in April 1929, and was active in the textile centres the coalfields and the agricultural districts of northern France.

He received a months imprisonment as a result of his arrest in the First of May demonstrations in 1929 and two years imprisonment in connection with the Roubaix textile strike (Barricades of the Rue des Longues-Hales) of 1930-1931. Ramette had been arrested on 30th June 1931

While Ramette was in prison in 1932 he was elected as Communist deputy for Douai and was re-elected after his release from prison in 1936.

Ramette became a member of the Central committee and the Political bureau of the communist party of France.

IN THE SERVICE OF THE PEOPLE

OATH OF THE COMMUNIST DEPUTIES

We, the deputies and militants of the French Communist party, swear to fight for the greatness of the people of our country and for the defence of the inter national proletariat.

We, the deputies and militants of the French Communist party, are totally at the service of the labouring masses united in the Popular Front on behalf of bread, peace and liberty.

Gladly ranging ourselves beneath the discipline of our party, and confident in its irresistible forward march, we swear to do our utmost for the union of the French nation, to work for a free, strong and happy France, which the Communists want and which they will bring about.

When the Communist party was outlawed by the German appeasers in the French Government, a new party was established on 28th September 1939 French Peasants and Workers group whose President was Ramette and Secretary Florimond Bonte

When communist deputies began to be inprisoned Ramette went into hiding

Ramette escaped to Belgium and through Communist contacts secured passage on the ship Molotov with Palmiro Togliatti and Raymond Guyot to Moscow , to finally join Thorez and Andre Marty in May 1940.

Ramette became responsible for broadcasts of Lino-radio, Post of National Front of struggle for the Liberation of France, where he was assisted by Felix Gouin

As France was liberated by the Communist lead French Resistance Ramette Returned to Paris 24^th Novemember 1944

Remette was re-elected in the 2nd district of the North, after the war as a deputy or senator up until 1973, He was also a Lille Communist councillor between 1947-1963

In 1948 he was injured during riots between Police and strikers in November 1948

Arthur Ramette Died Seclin 15th December 1988

The Declaration was printed in leaflet form by the French Communist party on the day after the trial. 3 April 1940- (The final passages stated)

We love France and what makes France: her people.

We are proud of her savants, her thinkers, her writers and her artists, who win her the affections of the peoples of the universe.

All through their history and their splendid revolutionary past, the people of France have risen up against tyrants. Is this not recalled in a stanza of the Marseillaise which the capitalists take good care not to teach to the children of the people?

We do not want to be slaves of Hitler, or vassals of Chamberlain, or servants of Mussolini! We want to be Frenchmen, masters of our own life.

Yes, we love the people of France, and we want to rid them of those who are leading them to the hecatombs and to ruin, of those who are inflicting on them the shame of the dictatorship. It is with profound disgust that the masses of the people turn away from the handful of cowards (Gitton, Capron and Co.) who have betrayed them.

These renegades represent only themselves and their own ignominy. We leave them to the contempt of the people!

We salute the innumerable workers who are courageously battling for Communism!

We Communists call upon the people to fight for bread, liberty and peace.

Yes, we are Communists! We are proud to be the heirs of the Communards, who by their sacrifice saved the Republic and fought for the emancipation of labour, and of whom Marx said that they stormed heaven.

Communism means peace in the development of the individual and of human dignity, in the progress of science and letters, and in the blossoming of civilization.

We are Frenchmen, and that is why we long with all our hearts for a free, strong and happy France.

We are internationalists, and that is why we regard every victory of the proletariat, no matter where, as our own victory.

Yes, we regard the building of Socialism in the U.S.S.R. as the first act of the world revolution, which will deliver the peoples from oppression and war!

Communists of, France, together with Maurice Thorez, Andre Marty, Jacques Duclos and all our fellow accused, we are working for the liberation of our country.

We want to rid it of war!

We appeal to the people to impose peace!

We have confidence in our country, in the France of 1793, of 1830, of 1848, of the Paris Commune, of February, 1934, and of May, 1936.

We have confidence in the people of France, and we are confident that they will very soon dig the grave of the capitalist regime which is responsible for poverty and war.

Long live a free France ! Long live a happy and strong France!

Long live peace!

Under the banner of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin, following the example of Karl Liebknecht and Dimitrov,

FORWARD TO COMMUNISM!

Andre Marty in The Trial of the French Communist Deputies states

Even in England, that pitiless capital of finance, where voices were loudly raised, even hissing Leon Blum at the Labour Party Conference, loudly proclaiming that working-class England does not sever its cause from working-class and peasant France. The resolutions and speeches in favour of the French deputies could be counted by the thousand. . . .

"We cannot understand how your government's action can be claimed to be different from the Fascist regime in Germany against which you are at war" declared the textile workers of Dundee. And they were echoed by the metal workers of Sheffield and by the London Trades Council, representing 300,000 members.

The British Anti-Fascist Aid Committee alone collected over two hundred resolutions, voted by 1,500,000 workers. Prominent members of the Labour party uttered their emphatic protest against the trial: Sir Charles Trevelyan, ex-Minister of Education; J.Wedgwood, M.P.;J. R. Squance, ex-general secretary of the Railwaymen's Union; and many others.

D. N. Pritt, K.G., M.P., publicly denouncing the trial in London, concluded by saying: " The people cannot and will not be crushed." And even the liberal and governmental News Chronicle admitted that the trial has deeply troubled sincere democrats in this country. The trial and persecution of a big scale of leaders and members of the French Communist party make the declarations of the French government that it is fighting for democracy sound rather artificial.

The workers of the world have passed judgment. They have shown their contempt of those who falsely call themselves France—

Andre Marty (picture May Day 1946)

University Labour Club Cafe 1939

University Labour Club Cafe

15 Percy Street, Off Tottenham Court Road, London, WC1 Lunches, Dinners, Teas, Snacks, Reduction all war Service Workers. Sunday discussions 4:00pm Rooms for hire Daily Worker 13 October 1939

Walter Southgate - Labour Historian & Clarion

Walter Southgate

"We were familiar with the countryside, because I can say truthfully that one of the best periods of my life was the days I spent cycling through the Essex countryside before the motor car and lorries came to spoil it all.

In 1910 I had founded the North East London clarion cycling club and when members were too numerous for safety on the road I founded off shoots.

Membership was open to both sexes and we explored the rustic villages and pubs for drinks ands teas, there was plenty of bread and butter, cake, shrimps and lettuce.

We rode two a breast with the Captain at the front and a vice captain at the rear, giving signals to one another by coded whistles.

Our journeys would be accompanied by singing and ringing of bells – it was a real fraternal outing in the fresh air, far from the stinks and grime of East End life."

NOTES
Walter Southgate born 8 May 1890 in Bethnal Green, East London.

At the age of twelve started work delivering milk in metal cans for 3s 6d a week, at fourteen a clerk in a solicitors.

Joined the Social Democratic Federation (SDF) in 1905, (which was the strongest socialist grouping in London,. The SDF in London unlike the rest of the country was a dominant force (as it was in Lancashire). Elsewhere it was the Independent Labour Party ILP, that was by far the dominant Socialist organisation).

Founded Hackney National Union of Clerks in 1905.

In 1910 founded North East London Clarion Cycling Club.

North London Clarion Cycling club was meeting on Sunday's at 10 oc clock at Manor to cycle into the countryside on 26th August 1917 it was Great Amwell, just above Hoddesdon

Note The London Clarion Club House was at Nazeing also near Hoddesdon.

Walter Southgate was a Conscientious objector WW1.

Later worked for the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers.

Aged ninety four he was also one of the last quill pen cutters.

Retired 1965

Labour Historian, Helped establish the Labour History Museum

Muriel Coult - Forgotten Heroine of Equal Pay Struggle

Muriel Coult

Muriel Coult was an active member of the Civil Service Clerical Association (the union is today, along with other merging partners, part of PCS, the Public and Commercial Services Union. She was described in the official history of the union as being a "woman who had shown exceptional energy on the Youth Advisory Committee".

She won much praise and admiration for her pioneering trade union education courses during the war. "In spite of enemy action, transport difficulties and the complications caused by evacuation and other war time problems, she made a great success of organising weekend schools in many parts of the country. So much so that many other unions followed CSCA initiative."

Muriel was elected to the Union's National Executive Committee in 1937, a position she held until 1944, when she became a full time official, taking the title of `Assistant Secretary’. But, despite Muriel's energy and commitment, she became increasingly marginalised within the union because of her openly left-wing views and membership of the Communist Party, especially after right wingers captured the union in 1949.

However, this did not stop Muriel Coult playing the leading role in organising the union’s campaign for Equal Pay. The campaign was started on 11^th February 1953with a debate on Equal Pay in the House of Lords, moved by Lord Pethick-Lawrence, who had played a part in the original suffragette movement.

This was followed up with a much-copied photo opportunity; on Valentine’s Day 1953, Muriel Coult and two other union representatives delivered a huge valentines card, with an Equal Pay slogan on it, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with the words “remember your promise of 16th May - Be true to US on budget day”!

Muriel Coult urged union members to collect signatures in homes, offices, special meetings, factory gates, shopping centres, and anywhere else. The aim was for a million signatures. In the event they collected 700,000 and this was presented on Equal Pay Day 9th March 1954 to the House of Commons by Douglas Houghton (a Labour MP) and Irene Ward (a Conservative MP). Outside, flags were flying bearing the old suffragette colours of purple and white, and there were purple and white buttonholes, purple and white stickers, and purple and white handbills - all bearing the slogan "Equal Pay on Budget Day".

It being Budget Day, the Chancellor posed with his red box for the famous photography. At the last minute, a group of union members produced from under their coats banners promoting equal pay, thus securing considerable press and television coverage.

Finally a Civil Service Equal Pay agreement was reached on 18th February 1955, 35 years after the House of Commons first approved the principle of Equal Pay in the sector. It was introduced in stages, which was meant it would not be fully operational until 1st January 1961.

Even so, Equal Pay disputes continued. Famously in 1959, a "Typists’ revolt" broke out, after it was discovered that the few male typists employed in service were earning 25% more than the women typists at the Treasury. Delays in addressing this grievance led, two days after the Augusts Bank holiday in 1959, to a thousand, manly young women, marching down Whitehall, singing and chanting as they went, gathering in a meeting in Horse Guards Avenue,

Muriel Coult, who became Muriel Jamieson by marriage, retired from the union in 1963 to become a teacher.

Muriel Coult surely deserves much better recognition today for her role in developing trade union education and even more importantly in securing the first real acceptance that Equal Pay in the Civil Service ought to be addressed, a fact which had repercussion's far beyond the Civil Service as the issue began to secure a foothold of attention in many, many other workplaces.

It is a scandal that in 2010 many women have still not secured Equal Pay. According to the Fawcett Society, Women working full-time earn on average 17%less per hour than men working full-time. For women working part-time compared to men working full-time the gap is 36% per hour – rising to 45% in London. But, without women such as Muriel, perhaps the scandal might be even worse than it is!

Source: the history of CPSA by Eric Wigham

1910 TONYPANDY - 2010 TORIES OUT

TONYPANDY 1910

NEVER FORGIVE - NEVER FORGET

2010 TORIES OUT

London Back Under Labour Control

MIGHTY
CITY

LONDON

BACK UNDER LABOUR CONTROL 2010

LABOUR ROLL CALL

Barking & Dagenham
Brent
Camden
Ealing
Enfield
Greenwich
Hackney
Haringey
Harrow
Hounslow
Lambeth
Lewisham
Islington
Newham
Southwark
Tower Hamlets
Waltham Forest

HAYES (HILLINGDON) ROLL CALL

BARNHILL 3 Labour
BOTWELL 3 Labour
CHARVILLE 1 Labour
HEATHROW 1 Labour
PINKWELL 3 Labour
TOWNFIELD 3 Labour
YEADING 3 Labour

Labour win 17 out 21

Hayes Labour Party 100 Years Not Out

1

John McDonnell - Re Elected in Hayes

John McDonnell MP

100 Years of Hayes Labour Party 1910-2010

Labour re-elected at Hayes 2010

Labour Victory in Hayes Council Seats

John McDonnell	Labour	23,377	54.8	-1.6
Scott Seaman-Digby	Conservative	12,553	29.4	+1.7
Satnam Kaur Khalsa	Liberal Democrat	3,726	8.7	-1.1
Chris Forster	British National Party	1,520	3.6	+1.3
Andrew Cripps	National Front	566	1.3	+1.3
Cliff Dixon	English Democrats	464	1.1	+1.1
Jessica Lee	Green	348	0.8	-0.6
Aneel Shahzad	Christian Party	83	0.2	+0.2
Majority		10,824	25.4
Turnout		42,637	60.7	+5.4

George "Gideon " Osbourne Conservative Shadow Chancelor stated

“There are lots of seats in London which at the beginning of the campaign I wouldn't have thought it possible to win but now I think we can,” said Mr Osborne. “Hayes & Harlington was not on our radar at all at the beginning of the campaign.” The shadow chancellor, also co-ordinator of the campaign, said: “We are fighting for a Conservative majority. I think that's within our grasp.”

Evening Standard 4th May 2010



RESULT 2005

Labour: 19009 (58.7%)
Conservative: 8162 (25.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 3174 (9.8%)
BNP: 830 (2.6%)
Green: 442 (1.4%)
UKIP: 552 (1.7%)
Other: 220 (0.7%)

Majority: 10847 (33.5%)


RESULT 2001

Labour: 21279 (65.7%)
Conservative: 7813 (24.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 1958 (6%)
BNP: 705 (2.2%)
Other: 648 (2%)
Majority: 13466 (41.6%)

RESULT 1997

Labour: 25458 (62%)
Conservative: 11167 (27.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 3049 (7.4%)
Referendum: 778 (1.9%)
Other: 639 (1.6%)
Majority: 14291 (34.8%)