Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Will Crooks: A celebration

Will Crooks: A celebration.  Tuesday 29th May, 6:30pm - 8:30pm at St. Matthias Community Centre,


This event will celebrate the 160th anniversary of the birth of Will Crooks:-  Trade Unionist, the fourth Labour Member of Parliament and first Labour Mayor of Poplar.
Speakers will include Nick Raynsford, Member of Parliament for Greenwich and Woolwich and David Edgar, councillor for Limehouse.

RSVP to: ramona.iosip@canarywharf.com or 020 7418 2462.

 
Check out Will Crooks and Pathe News (above) of his funeral in 1921.

Quote about Will Crooks "I once heard him say that a non-Union workman who tried to gain personal advancement at the expense of his mates was like a man who stole a wreath from his neighbour's grave and won a prize with it at a flower show!"

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I hear about 70 people turned up for the Will Crooks celebration. That's good to hear. He was one of labour's finest. He became the first ever Labour Mayor in London when he became Mayor of Poplar. He was a pioneer of the Labour movement and we Brit's owe him so much. Will Crooks was also a huge working class hero, choosing to live among the poor and working class people that he represented. The Pathe news clip of his funeral is great as it show's just how many people took to the streets to pay their last respects. There's also a book out on his life called 'Where there's a Will, there's a way: The remarkable life story of Will Crooks MP'. For those that are interested, you can read more info on Will on the author's website at: http://www.jimsbooksite.com/read-more-about-will--sample-chapter.html

John Gray said...

Hi John

Glad to hear it was a success. I had a last minute clash and couldn't go.

Tomorrow in West Ham we are organising an event at the old Town Hall in Stratford to mark 120th anniversary of the election of Keir Hardie as the first ever Labour MP.

josette said...

Hello John

So sorry i missed this and did not know about the memorial celebration.
For my direct descendant Great Grand Dad Will Crooks.
As i am his radical activist environmentalist animal rights campaigner human rights and freedom fighter global elite objector Grand Daughter.
And i am so proud of where i get it from and that he is still respected and admired for his contributions.

A TRUE MP REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE FROM THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE SO NEEDED IN THESE MODERN TIMES REPRESENTATIVES WITH STRENGTH OF PURPOSE FOR OTHERS...THAT HOLD POSITIONS OF TRUST AND PRIVILEGE.

Josette Fuller

John Gray said...

Hi Josette

Send me your email address. We are thinking in West Ham of marking Will in someway and it would be great for you to come.

john.gray2012@btinternet.com