X987/3/2/1/7

Notes on Stondon, Meppershall, Clifton and Shefford for the Open Air Meetings Campaign.

Notes for open air meetings on 22 July 1948.

From: 1948 To: 1948

Notes read:- 'Stondon. 566 Electors. Stondon is agricultural - with the exception of those people who number a good many who are the personnel of the Henlow R.A.F. Camp, and Officers stationed there. The Chairman is Mr. G. Thompson, the Bungalow, Upper Stondon - and the Hon. Secretary is Mr. B.E. Cooper, 295, Stondon Road, Lower Stondon. It is a very go-ahead little branch. Mr. Lennox-Boyd was there last winter, and we have regular socials and whist drives - about once a quarter. There is also a Discussion Group - which meets fairly frequently. Meppershall. 422 Electors. Practically 100% Agricultural (market gardening). We recently held a very well attended meeting, addressed by Mr. Lennox-Boyd. Suggest you see Miss Long, Milverton Cottage, Meppershall - telephone Shefford 285. We are about to re-organise this branch, in the early Autumn. There is a strong Radical element in the village - also Labour - but I think we just about hold our own. Clifton. 712 Electors. 80% agricultural - many, however, go to Hitchin to work. Chairman of Clifton is Mr. A.T. Bradshaw, of Whiston House, Church Street, Clifton (telephone number Clifton 246). There is a combined branch of the Young Conservatives in Clifton and Shefford - Chairman Miss N. Bemrose, Tenby, Ampthill Road, Shefford - Hon. Secretary Miss H. Jenkins, 56, Broad Street, Clifton. We had a very good social here recently, and Mr. Lennox-Boyd addressed the Youth Club - also recently. The Radical element in this village is fairly strong as it is the home of the Liberal Candidate's father-in-law - Mr. Inskip. Shefford. 1,273 Electors. Shefford is just over 50% Conservative. Chairman of the women's Branch is Mrs. Windham, Chicksands, Shefford (Tel. number - Shefford 260). Hon. Secretary is Mrs. Fisher - The Hollies, Shefford. There is a small Conservative Club which alas does not take much part politically. The main industry of Shefford is agriculture - but there are two laundries and a coffee factory. Mr. Ruscell - the head of the Coffee Factory, was recently elected on the County Council in a by-election. Mr. George Odell of Campton is Chairman of the Conservative Club - and Mr. L. Church, 33, High Street, Shefford, the Hon. Secretary. The Inskip influence in Shefford (Radical) is pretty strong - and also Mr. Ansell the Secretary of the Labour Party, has a good deal of influence, but we more than hold our own. Campton, which is part of the Shefford Polling District - is the home of the Divisional Chairman of the women's Branch Mrs. Walter Chapman - Campton Manor - telephone number Shefford 250. Mrs. Chapman is President of the women's branch at Shefford. Campton is more than 50% Conservative.

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Mid Bedfordshire Conservative Association,
Wilson, Douglas,
Lennox-Boyd, Alan,
Thompson, G.,
Cooper, B.E.,
Bradshaw, A T,
Jenkins, H.,
Inskip,
Odell, George,
Ansell,
Church, L.,
Chapman, Walter

Conservative Party, Conservatives, Liberal Party, Labour Party, political parties, POLITICS, STONDON, MEPPERSHALL, CLIFTON, SHEFFORD, CAMPTON