Talk by Alan Fowler: The opening of Hebden Bridge Trades Club and the first Labour Government

The Trades Club was opened in February 1925 and the foundation stones were laid in May 1924 a few months before One of the foundation stones was laid by Tom Shaw , Minister of Labour in the 1924  Labour government and member of Britain’s first ever Labour cabinet. His speech reviewed the success of the government. But by 1925, when the Trades Club was opened, Labour was in opposition.

The key figure at the formal opening was J.W.Tout, former Oldham MP  and Secretary of the Todmorden Weavers, who became the Calder Valley’s first Labour MP. The talk explains the significance of these two  ceremonies and how they reflected the wider change of the 1920s in Britain. 

Alan taught economic history at the Manchester Metropolitan University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has given many memorable talks to HBLHS about the Labour and Trades union movements in our area.