X987/3/2/1/6

Notes on Old Warden, Northill, Moggerhanger, Biggleswade for the Open Air Meetings Campaign.

Notes for open air meetings on 21 July 1948.

From: 1948 To: 1948

Notes read:- 'Old Warden. 291 Electors. Old Warden is 100% agricultural and the home of Mrs. Shuttleworth (Old Warden Park) which is now an Agricultural and Forrestry College. The Chairman of the Branch is Captain H. Vellum, Lakeside Cottage, Old Warden (telephone Northill 242) and the Hon. Secretary is Mr. F.P. Copcutt, Swiss Cottage, Old Warden. At the last Election this village voted 80% Conservative. Unfortunately the Agricultural Workers' Union have formed a branch here recently and sereval people joined. Various indications show that there is a slight swing to the Left. Our former Divisional Chairman, Colonel L.W. Diggle, M.C. lives at Orchard Grange, Old Warden (please do not call as he is very ill). Mr Gilbert at the Hare and Hounds is a very good supporter and will always put up posters, etc. Northill. 957 Electors. The Northill Polling District includes Ickwell and Caldecote. Northill and Ickwell are practically 100% agricultural. At Caldecote, however, several people go to Biggleswade factories to work. The Chairman of the Northill Branch is Mr. A.E. Bennett, Brookfield, Ickwell, and the Hon. Secretary is Miss Phillips, 5, Ickwell Road, Northill. The Hon. Secretary of Caldecote Branch is Miss Woodward, of Dove Cottage, Upper Caldecote. Mr. Bennett is extremely popular and is a tower of strength - but now getting very old as is Miss Phillips. We had a very good social here recently, which unfortunately Mr. Lennox-Boyd was prevented from attending as his mother was very seriously ill. Last Election approximately 55% voted Conservative - but the Radical element is strong - particularly at Caldecote. There are in this village many more people who could help if only they would - and there are some new people - Mr. and Mrs. Wright, at Ickwell Grange who will, I think, help us when we have our next Social in the winter. Moggerhanger. 406 Electors. (which includes the Sanatorium). Nearly 100% agricultural. The leading farmer - Mr. L.V. Davison, Willow Hall - is an enormous help. It is, however, a very Radical little village - and we have always had great difficulty in keeping a branch going. At the moment we really virtually have none. I suggest you see Mrs. Davison, at Willow Hill, Moggerhanger, who will, I am sure, help you in every way possible. Her telephone number is Blunham 229. Biggleswade. 5,127 Electors. Biggleswade is the second largest town in the Division, and will be the largest under the Redistribution of Seats. Market Day is Saturday. Chairman of the Men's Branch is Mr. D.S. Redman, Bleak Hall, Biggleswade - Hon. Secretary, Mr. Walter Cooper, J.P. Brunswick House, Biggleswade. Chairman of the women's Branch is Mrs. Maynard - Stratton Park Farm, Biggleswade - Hon. Secretary - Miss B. Kendall, 6, Station Road, Biggleswade, and Hon. Treasurer - Mrs. Spong, 17, High Street, Biggleswade. The Chairman of the Young Conservatives in Biggleswade is Mr. G. Pressland, 88, London Road - and the joint Hon. Secretaries are Miss D. Barron and Miss J. Collyer, 5, Station Road, Biggleswade. The Divisional Chairman of the Association - Mr. A. Kur - lives at 51, High Street, Biggleswade (telephone number Biggleswade 2131). The main industries are agriculture, wells and winches Brewery, Kayser Bondor Stocking factory, and small engineering works. Mr. Redman is a Director of wells and winch - and a very generous and active supporter. Mrs. Spong (Printers in the High Street) knows more about Biggleswade women's Branch than anyone. She has been actively connected with it for over 20 years - and a great tower of strength. Mrs Kendall, recently Divisional Secretary of the Young Conservatives is now Hon. Secretary of the women's Branch at Biggleswade, and does a great deal to help. The Conservative Club does very little to help us politically - but will always let us have a room for meetings, etc. The Biggleswade Chronicle - a privately owned paper - does give us very fair publicity - but the North Beds. Courier (a subsidiary paper of the Beds. Times) does so under pressure. The Liberal and Labour Parties in Biggleswade are extremely active - and I fear the growth of the Liberal Party far more than the Labour Party. We have just held a successful fete in the grounds of the Conservative Club, which would have been even more successful if the weather had been finer.

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Mid Bedfordshire Conservative Association,
Wilson, Douglas,
Lennox-Boyd, Alan,
Vellum, H.,
Copcutt, F.P.,
Diggle, Leonard Wyndham,
Bennett, A.E.,
Davison, Leopold Victor,
Redman, Dudley Stewart,
Cooper, Walter,
Kendall, B.,
Spong,
Pressland, G.,
Barron, D.,
Collyer, J.,
Kur, A.

Conservative Party, Conservatives, political parties, Liberal Party, Labour Party, POLITICS, National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers, Old Warden, NORTHILL, Moggerhanger, BIGGLESWADE, Ickwell, Caldecote