SPGB Meetings: 1985-86 Winter Lectures (1985)

Party News from the October 1985 issue of the Socialist Standard

SPGB Meetings (1988)

Party News from the October 1988 issue of the Socialist Standard

Click on the image to enlarge.

SPGB Meetings (1986)

Party News from the October 1986 issue of the Socialist Standard

Blogger's Note:

There were so many meetings advertised in the October 1986 Standard that I had to split the party news post into two. And I still didn't even get to include everyone listed in the label section. Apologies to Pieter Lawrence, Steve Coleman, Paul Bennett, West London Branch, Salford, Leeds, Manchester Branch . . . did I leave anyone out?

SPGB Meetings (1981)

Party News from the November 1981 issue of the Socialist Standard

Party News (1987)

Party News from the June 1987 issue of the Socialist Standard

Camden and North West London Branches have just concluded a series of ten propaganda meetings, jointly organised by the two branches. All the lectures dealt with subjects fundamental to the SPGB case, including democracy, reforms, war. trade unions. For each of the lectures a fact sheet was made available for distribution to the audience. These sheets gave a number of quotations relative to the subject, from party publications over a number of years, and quotes from our opponents. The quotes showed clearly the correctness of the socialist position relative to those of parties and individuals who call themselves "practical". The collection of ten sheets is an invaluable guide to all members, and in particular to speakers.

The Branches will soon be planning their next series.

Obituary: Cyril May (2003)

Obituary from the November 2003 issue of the Socialist Standard

Cyril May, who was the Party's Central Organiser for many years, died last month. He joined Paddington branch in 1940 after listening to Party speakers in Hyde Park where he was later to himself become a regular speaker. Refusing to be conscripted to kill fellow workers in the war then going on, he was sent to work on the land.

He was one of the best Central Organisers that the Party has had, travelling the country to speak at meetings and encourage members to form groups and branches, organising meetings and rallies, arranging for leaflets and socialist literature to be available for demonstrations such as the CND marches of the 1960s, acting as election agent, rushing bundles of Socialist Standards to Euston station for dispatch to provincial branches; you name it, he did it — except for serving on the executive committee since he preferred to concentrate on the Party's front-line activity of putting over the case for socialism.

He was an impressive indoor and outdoor speaker, putting over the case in a persuasive, non-aggressive way, addressing the audience as "Men and Women" (which raised a few eyebrows since the traditional form was "Fellow Workers:! For many years he also acted as secretary of the Paddington branch, but in the 1970s set out to organise another new branch, in Hampstead.

Later, he transferred to North West London branch. Unfortunately, this was one of two branches that came into conflict with the rest of the Party for deliberately and repeatedly refusing to apply a Conference resolution that was later confirmed by a poll of the whole membership. In the end, in 1991. after two further Party polls, most of the members of the two branches were expelled, a majority of members considering that internal Parry democracy was a cardinal socialist principle that overrode ail other considerations including past service to the cause of Socialism. Sadly, the last ten or so years of his political life were spent, as part of a group of individuals who, rather ludicrously, claimed to be us trying to undermine the party for which he had done so much work.

Blogger's Notes:

The May 1977 issue of the Socialist Standard has a picture of Cyril May addressing a SPGB meeting. Also of interest is an issue of The Western Socialist dating from 1970 which carries the transcript of an interview with Cyril May that was conducted by Arlene Francis of WOR-AM, a local New York radio station. 

SPGB Meetings (1987)

Party News from the October 1987 issue of the Socialist Standard

Party News (1988)

Party News from the June 1988 issue of the Socialist Standard

Camden and North West London Branches have recently concluded another series of 10 lectures, which have been a regular feature of their joint activity for the past few years. In addition, an extra meeting was arranged dealing with Russia — 70 years on from the Revolution.

The main series covered a wide range of subjects fundamental to the socialist case, plus two or three that dealt with the more "popular" features of capitalism. The Branches feel that it is still essential for the theoretical basis of our case to be aired and related to 20th century capitalism, this knowledge is essential for the socialist propagandist to deal with the spurious claims of the reformist parties.

The attendance for the series ranged from 25 to 40 and the lectures were marked by the high degree of research and investigation on the part of the speakers. A "Fact Sheet" was produced for each lecture, giving interesting quotes and statistics about the subject matter, copies are available on application to the Branch secretaries.

We should like to thank all those who attended and made the series such a success and to state that the branches are now organising a further series to commence in the Autumn.

Camden and N.W. London Branches 

Socialist sound in Plymouth (1989)

Party News from the January 1989 issue of the Socialist Standard

Probably for the first time in the Party's history, a meeting was held in Plymouth. On 18 November, at the invitation of the Plymouth Fabian Society, Comrade C. May addressed an audience of 25 on the subject — What is Socialism? The invitation had been arranged by a member of North West London Branch who lives in the area. Many of the audience were members of the Labour Party, one of whom still clung to the idea that the 1945 Attlee Labour Government was the best socialist government we have ever had. The question and discussion period was extremely lively, with points about human nature, reforms, incentive, and yes, even religion well aired. It was obvious that the SPGB concept of socialism was new to Plymouth.

On the previous day, Comrade May had an hour's interview on BBC Radio Devon. This station covers the whole of Devon and Cornwall and many aspects of the Party case were discussed.

Obituaries: Renee and Harry Hamme (1986)

Obituaries from the March 1986 issue of the Socialist Standard

To record the death of one member of the SPGB is not an enviable task; to record the passing of two comrades in a short space of time leaves a gap not easy to fill. Renee and Harry Hamme were both members of North West London Branch.

Renee died last Autumn after a short illness, bringing to an end a partnership that spanned many years, not only in the SPGB but also in the World Socialist Party (US). Renee's last visit to NW London Branch was on the night Harry gave a talk on various aspects of psychoanalysis and its relevance to our case. Prior to their departure for America, they had both been members of Westminster Branch for some years. In America they settled close to San Francisco, but despite its attractions they were almost in isolation and missed the comradeship of fellow socialists. The writer, on one of his visits to the States, enjoyed not only their hospitality but hours of discussion covering many aspects of the socialist case. From time to time they attended opponents' meetings, challenging the very roots of the capitalist system and astounding the audience with some revolutionary aspects of socialism. To offset the isolation, Harry wrote a number of articles for the Western Socialist.

A longing for home and for socialist contact brought them back to England a few years ago, to join North West London Branch in January 1982. which they regularly attended.

The death of Renee was a bitter blow to Harry, who died last month. He was tenacious in argument and would never concede a point until completely convinced of its validity. He had plans for some Branch lectures that regretfully never reached fruition. A Master Baker by trade, his doughnuts were the highlight of many Conference lunches and tea sessions.

To their daughters Jane and Barbara, and to other members of the family we offer our sympathy. To the socialist movement, they gave according to their ability. We shall miss them a lot.

Cyril May

North West London Branch