Tag: Clement Attlee

Comrades: Tom Mann

Tom Mann addressing the crowds at Trafalgar Square. Possibly at the Sacco and Vanzetti protest in 1927.

Few members of the public might recognise the name Tom Mann these days but, even though he died over eighty years ago, he remains a giant of the Labour movement and trade unionism. He drew huge crowds as a public speaker and achieved the seemingly impossible by being equally admired by moderate Labour figures such as George Lansbury, Clement Attlee and Herbert Morrison and by his comrades in the CPGB Harry Pollitt and Willie Gallacher. Both my great grandfather, Bob, and William, my grandfather were privileged to know him. Recently I watched some old Pathe footage of Mann addressing crowds of people in Trafalgar Square and was amazed to see Bob Stewart wander in to shot and look straight at the camera for a moment. At that point in time- 1927- he was fifty years old – a landmark which I am rapidly approaching. Almost a hundred years separated us an unexpected and it was spine tingling moment.

Below you will find photographs of a few of the documents relating to Tom Mann we have. Two of them relate directly to his eightieth birthday celebrations in 1936 and feature contributions from the figures mentioned earlier as well as a few others. I hope you enjoy them.

Front cover and opening pages of ‘Tom Mann -80th Birthday Souvenir’. Signed by the man himself.

Introduction by Ben Tillet, Mann’s friend and colleague.

‘Tom Mann: Militant Trade Unionist’ by W. Arthur Peacock.

Birthday greetings from George Lansbury, Clement Attlee, Dave Kendall, George N. Barnes and Percy Laidler.

Birthday greetings from Herbert Morrison, W.A. Appleton, Wilfred H. Harrison, Tom Mooney, Harry Pollitt, Fred A. Smith, W. P. Coates, Jack Tanner, J. R. Clones and Edo Fimmen. Back cover – note from my grandad to my dad – he’s gone to Tottenham corner.

Apparently seven hundred people attended Tom Mann’s 80th Birthday Testimonial Dinner. Here’s an autographed menu. Signed by Tom Mann, Ben Tillet, Bob Stewart, Willie Gallacher, Harry Pollitt, Clement Attlee (!) and others. I was quite shocked to see Attlee’s autograph in that company- not exactly renowned for his communist sympathies is he?

Clement Attlee’s autograph near the bottom just above the printed credits.

A memorial to Tom Mann was unveiled at Lawnswood Cemetery in 1970. I am presuming my grandfather attended and bought back this souvenir- Bob Stewart would probably have been to poorly to attend at that time.