Picket Line Research
SLHS committee member Diarmaid Kelliher is working on a research project at the University of Glasgow on ‘The Picket Line in Britain, 1966-1998’, exploring the role of the picket line in industrial relations and British politics at this time. Currently he is looking for people involved in picketing in those years, in whatever way, to interview. As well as covering the more famous disputes, Diarmaid would like to talk to people involved in less well-known picketing, to get a broad sense of people’s experiences. If you are interested in doing an interview or have suggestions of people for Diarmaid to contact, you can email him at Diarmaid.kelliher@glasgow.ac.uk
Scottish Mining & Mining-related Memorials
National Mining Museum Scotland (NMMS) volunteer Jim Henry is researching, locating and photographing mining and mining-related memorials across Scotland, as part of a project to create an NMMS catalogue. The 180(-ish) memorials so far identified stretch from Perth to Canonbie and Dailly to Prestonpans, and include known memorials, those being re-located, memorial proposals, and those no longer extant. The list can be viewed at https://nationalminingmuseum.com/collection/projects/mining-memorials/ and photographs of the memorials can be viewed at http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/menu/Scotland.htm#top However, Jim is still looking for “missing” items, such as the Seafield Disaster Plaque, which was in the old Glenrothes CISWO building, and three plaques from the demolished Uddingston Miners’ Rehabilitation Centre. He would welcome information on anything not on his list, especially any that are out of public view, and can be contacted on 0131 664 7185 or via jamesjhenry1950@aol.com
Working Class Movement Library Talks
The WCML live-streamed Invisible Histories talks are starting again. Those scheduled for May are: 5 May–Ben Harker book launch: The Chronology of Revolution: Communism, Culture, and Civil Society in 20th-century Britain; 12 May–Hazel Kent: A Socialist Witness for Peace: Fenner Brockway’s Conscientious Objection during the First World War; 19 May–Frances Chiu on Thomas Paine, details tbc; 26 May–Terry Dunne: Land & Labour: the Agrarian Question in the Irish Revolution (1913-23). Full details at www.wcml.org.uk/events
Robert Owen Anniversary
A conference is planned for 12-14 October at New Lanark to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Owen, and a call for papers is expected shortly. In the meantime, the contact for further information is Jane Masters, Head of Heritage and Development at New Lanark at Jane.Masters@newlanark.org
Local histories of Britain’s War Resisters 1914-1918
The Socialist History Society (SHS) hosted speaker Cyril Pearce for an online talk on Saturday, 24 April, based on his two books about conscientious objectors during the 1st World War. The talk is available to view on the SHS website at http://www.socialisthistorysociety.co.uk/?p=1135. Both of his books – Comrades in Conscience and Communities of Resistance – are available from the publisher via https://francisboutle.co.uk/writers/cyril-pearce/. If you use the discount code Socialist20 when checking out, you receive a 20% discount.
Anglo-Soviet Book Launch
RMT Glasgow Shipping Branch is hosting an online event for the launch of Colin Turbett’s new book, The Anglo-Soviet Alliance, on 5th May at 1900hrs/7pm. Tickets for the event can be obtained via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launch-comrades-allies-tickets-1461…
Continuing PayPal Problems
As noted in earlier newsletters, access to PayPal from the SLHS website is not currently working. Because of this, we would like to remind members there are other ways to pay – via online banking, by setting up an annual standing order, or by cheque through the post. For those wishing to pay by online transfer, the Society’s bank account details are: Scottish Labour History Society; sort code: 08-92-99; account no: 65474464. The subscription remains £15.00 waged and £10.00 unwaged. To pay by post, please send cheque, payable to Scottish Labour History Society, to: Robert Laurie, SLHS Treasurer, 201 Alberta Avenue, East Kilbride, G75 8HU. Members wishing to set up a standing order for annual renewal can use the SLHS bank details above. We will announce here and on the website when the PayPal situation is resolved.
Any items for future newsletters should be sent to admin@scottishlabourhistorysociety.scot
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