Trade unionists and activists from across Britain gathered at Burston village for the annual Strike School commemoration on Sunday 2 September in the biggest turnout for many years.
This year's event took place on the ninetieth anniversary of the opening of the present school in 1917 by George Lansbury, who became leader of the Labour Party in 1931.
Will Sullivan, the TUC's Equalities Officer opened the rally by drawing attention to the fact that in addition to their educational work the Higdons fought against child labour. The next speaker, Mary Davies of London Metropolitan University drew attention to the fact that the events in Burston did not take place in a vacuum.
The years before the First World War saw a great upsurge in political activity with trade unions growing in size and militancy while the Suffragettes were causing the Liberal government trouble as they escalated their campaign for votes for women. She was however in error by stating that Norfolk was not a militant area. Norfolk was where the agricultural labourer's union was founded in 1906.
After a march round the village retracing the route taken by the children when they left the old school in 1914 and music from local bands and Billy Bragg. other speakers took the stage. Barry Camfield, Assistant General Secretary of the TGWU Section of Unite welcomed the recent action of the Prison Officers Association in defying the anti-union laws introduced by Margaret Thatcher and maintained by Tony Blair. His comments on what should be done to repeal these anti-trade union laws was predictably vague.
Veteran Labour politician Tony Benn pointed out that while many speak of traditional British values, they in fact mean deference to the powers that be. Burston on the other hand represented a better British tradition of defiance and disobedience to the ruling classes which began with the Peasants'' Revolt of 1381 and was continued by the Levellers.
The final speaker was Bob Crow, General Secretary of the Railway Maritime and Transport union who denounced Gordon Brown for appointing Sir Digby Jones of the CBI while not appointing a trade unionist to Cabinet.
The NCP East Anglia District's stall had a steady stream of visitors. Before the day was out the entire stock of sixty New Workers was sold out. The specially produced East Anglia Worker also proved extremely popular. Throughout the day sales of literature,jigsaws, and bric-a-brac all helped boost Party funds.
This year's event took place on the ninetieth anniversary of the opening of the present school in 1917 by George Lansbury, who became leader of the Labour Party in 1931.
Will Sullivan, the TUC's Equalities Officer opened the rally by drawing attention to the fact that in addition to their educational work the Higdons fought against child labour. The next speaker, Mary Davies of London Metropolitan University drew attention to the fact that the events in Burston did not take place in a vacuum.
The years before the First World War saw a great upsurge in political activity with trade unions growing in size and militancy while the Suffragettes were causing the Liberal government trouble as they escalated their campaign for votes for women. She was however in error by stating that Norfolk was not a militant area. Norfolk was where the agricultural labourer's union was founded in 1906.
After a march round the village retracing the route taken by the children when they left the old school in 1914 and music from local bands and Billy Bragg. other speakers took the stage. Barry Camfield, Assistant General Secretary of the TGWU Section of Unite welcomed the recent action of the Prison Officers Association in defying the anti-union laws introduced by Margaret Thatcher and maintained by Tony Blair. His comments on what should be done to repeal these anti-trade union laws was predictably vague.
Veteran Labour politician Tony Benn pointed out that while many speak of traditional British values, they in fact mean deference to the powers that be. Burston on the other hand represented a better British tradition of defiance and disobedience to the ruling classes which began with the Peasants'' Revolt of 1381 and was continued by the Levellers.
The final speaker was Bob Crow, General Secretary of the Railway Maritime and Transport union who denounced Gordon Brown for appointing Sir Digby Jones of the CBI while not appointing a trade unionist to Cabinet.
The NCP East Anglia District's stall had a steady stream of visitors. Before the day was out the entire stock of sixty New Workers was sold out. The specially produced East Anglia Worker also proved extremely popular. Throughout the day sales of literature,jigsaws, and bric-a-brac all helped boost Party funds.
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