Lasting legacy in Burton for Vale Rawlings

Councillors on East Staffordshire Borough Council are proposing that a room at Burton Town Hall is named in honour of the trade unionist - who had been all but forgotten by the general public until our project launched.

The council will debate a motion to re-name a room at Burton Town Hall as The Vale Rawlings Room at a full council meeting on Monday December 9 - three days after our production of 'Strikers!' on the town hall stage.

Improving the lives of working people

Councillor Paul Walker, who is the council’s Cabinet Member for Tourism and Cultural Development, will propose the motion, saying that the council believes that it is right to ensure there is a permanent commemoration of local people who helped make significant change to the lives of ordinary working people.  He will say that Vale Rawlings was someone who made a significant contribution to improving the lives of working people across the borough in the run up to, and following, World War One.

The official motion to be discussed says: "Among his (Vale's) successes was a campaign to secure a minimum wage of 23 shillings a week for labourers, including those at the town’s breweries. It was said that this put an extra £30,000 a year into the pockets of Burton’s working class."

The image below shows the statue of Lord Burton outside Burton Town Hall. Michael Arthur Bass, also the first Baron Burton (1837-1909) had been the town's Liberal MP for 20 years. his statue was unveiled in 1911. It was near here that Labour Leader Keir Hardie stood to address crowds of Burton residents in 1914 about the need to campaign for a retrial for Vale Rawlings. He called his prison sentence a 'gross miscarriage of justice'.

Ensuring the hungry were fed

It adds: "Between the wars, Vale’s philanthropic spirt continued helping to support local people in poverty. He represented Branston on Tutbury Rural District Council, where he took a leading role in schemes to build new council houses, modern sewage systems and better roads while ensuring the hungry were fed.

“We welcome the efforts of a Burton-based Community Interest Company, set up in Vale’s name, to tell this forgotten Burton story."

In the spirit of Vale’s passion to help those in need – including striking female workers from the ‘flycatcher factory’ in Burton – all profits from the CIC are being split between YMCA Burton and SARAC to support their continuing work in the town.

Premiering the new play

Elaine Pritchard, who has researched Vale’s life and written the play ‘Strikers!’ about him, said: “On behalf of The Vale Rawlings Project Community Interest Company I want to say how thrilled we are that this step is being proposed. The 29 actors in our community cast are already excited to be premiering the new play about him on Friday December 6 on the stage where Vale himself once spoke. To know that a nearby room is likely to be named after him as well adds an extra, special buzz.

“I am hopeful that some of Vale's descendants, who have been so helpful and supportive in the writing of 'Strikers!', will be able to join me in the public gallery to watch the December 9 council meeting.”

Meeting will be live streamed

Members of the public can attend this meeting and sit in the public gallery to watch and listen to proceedings, but not participate. The meeting starts at 6.30pm on Monday December 9. Space is limited. To ensure the meeting remains a safe and accessible place for all, bag searches will be in operation on arrival at the Town Hall for all attendees.

If you cannot attend in person, the meeting will be live streamed. The link can be found on the council website and also on YouTube. You can download the full agenda and find more details about the meeting here at the council's website.

Tickets for the unique production of Strikers! are still available to buy online at Strikers-BurtonTownHall or you can book by phone via the Brewhouse box office at 01283-508100. Tickets can also be bought on the door on the night.

The council motion in full

The full motion proposed by Councillor Walker, at the meeting on Monday December 9, reads as follows: “This Council recognises the significant contribution Burton trade unionist Vale Rawlings made to improve the lives of working people across the borough in the run up to, and following, World War One.

“Among his successes was a campaign to secure a minimum wage of 23 shillings a week for labourers, including those at the town’s breweries. It was said that this put an extra £30,000 a year into the pockets of Burton’s working class.

“In the summer of 1914, Vale supported the striking Mosley Street ‘Flycatcher Girls’ - factory workers mostly aged 13-17. He was jailed for assaulting a police inspector and a non-striking worker, charges which he and multiple eyewitnesses vehemently denied. We note that the case triggered a national outcry which brought Labour Party founder Keir Hardie to Burton. 10,000 people signed a petition demanding a retrial and pointing out discrepancies in the evidence. Eventually the Home Secretary bowed to public pressure and released Vale a week early but refused a retrial or a pardon.

“Some 15,000 people lined the route from Horninglow railway station to Burton’s market square as Vale was paraded in triumph. In the market square and surrounding streets alone, 7,000 people were said to have crowded shoulder to shoulder to hear Vale speak.

“Between the wars, Vale’s philanthropic spirt continued helping to support local people in poverty. He represented Branston on Tutbury Rural District Council, where he took a leading role in schemes to build new council houses, modern sewage systems and better roads while ensuring the hungry were fed.

“We welcome the efforts of a Burton-based Community Interest Company, set up in Vale’s name, to tell this forgotten Burton story.

“As well as acknowledging great local military figures, this council also believes that it is right to ensure there is a permanent commemoration of local people who helped make significant change to the lives of ordinary working people."