Radical Walthamstow

Most British socialists will know of Walthamstow's most famous radical, William Morris and a number of us will have read E P Thompson's biography. But few of us know about the radical figures that Morris's work inspired in the borough where he was born. Roger Huddle does.

Roger, a local activist and poet, gave a fascinating talk last night at Walthamstow's Central Library. After painting a vivid and evocative picture of the birth of the borough and its evolution from five small hamlets, Roger wove a number of strands together in a compelling story that covered the rise of chartism, the growth of the early Social Democratic Federation and the Socialist League, the role of groups like the Clarions in winning working people to socialist ideas and event the role of the socialist Sunday schools which by the end of the 19th century were attended by more than a hundred young people every Sunday and who observed the socialist ten commandments, the tenth of which looked forward, "to the day when all men and women will be free citizens of one community, and live together as equals in peace and righteousness."

Roger usually gives his overview of local radical history as a walk around the borough, taking in many of the buildings and sites where the pioneering figures he introduced worked and agitated. He apologised for the fragmentary nature of his narrative. No need, it was a clear and engaging discussion of the work of people whose example we could do worse than emulate today.

In describing the radical history of Walthamstow Huddle says he wants to name and give tribute to many of those working people - labourers, artisans, trade unionists, activists - who the history books so often ignore.

Only this week the Post Office issued a set of commemorative stamps celebrating William Morris. Many like our current chancellor of the exchequer, scion of a family of wallpaper manufacturers, think that William Morris is a man who made pretty patterns for the decorating the homes of the wealthy. This lecture told the real story of those who had designs not for homes but for the liberation of humankind. Next time you see that Roger is giving one of his talks or walks go. I'll see you there.