Comments on: Collyer’s Politics Society

By: Gordon Seekings

Gordon Seekings — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:16:10 +0000

I remember at my school in Battersea in the 1966 General Election. Four candidates, Labour (who won), Tory, Liberal and Communist. Even in those days I supported the Liberal candidate but we came 4th behind the Communist who almost got more votes than the Tory.

It may seem a bit strange the Communist doing so well these days but my school covered the old Battersea slum area that was at that time being cleared and the parliamentary seats were Battersea South and Battersea North and Battersea North had in the recent past returned a Communist MP.

By: Skuds

Skuds — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:42:58 +0000

It was fun. I shall try to encourage Stuart to invite my friend Gordon from the Crawley Lib Dems some time, in the absence of nearby LD MPs.

He has worked for MPs in the past, works for the LD head office now and has the added advantage of being a bona fide political anorak… (a one-hour session will not be nearly long enough:) )

Luck of the draw with the Smiths BTW. Could so easily have been Shakira or Wham! coming up on the randomiser.

By: Skuds

Skuds — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:33:50 +0000

Unfortunately the only election we had while I was at school were the 1974 ones when I was a bit young to follow them properly.

I do remember that some candidates came to speak to us though. At the time I thought nothing of it, but I am now retrospectively very impressed by their effort. It was enough of a logistical nightmare trying to get to Horsham from Manor Royal in time but my school was a small rural boarding school.

The oldest pupils were two years from voting age, by which time they would have gone back home elsewhere in the county. There was absolutely nothing in it for the candidates or party members who came to us… I now feel guilty that I was not more greatful at the time.

By: Danivon

Danivon — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:52:41 +0000

Ahh, that takes me back. I was in 6th form at Collyer’s in 1992 and we held a mock election the day before the General. We were the only ones who went around to talk to as many of the form groups as possible, and people were interested (if not exactly supportive) in what we had to say. The candidate did alright in the end – beating the BNP (yep, they had a candidate who stood for them because the Tory slot had gone).

By: Ed Steeds

Ed Steeds — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:37:26 +0000

Hey, I was one of those kids. Wanted to say thanks for coming, was interesting to hear what you had to say. Also kudos for the Smiths lyric on front page. Cheers.