To mark 100 years since the foundation of the Hereford Labour Party, 100 members and supporters celebrated at a dinner held at the Left Bank, Hereford, on Saturday, November 18th.

The Right Hon, John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, as guest of honour, provided the keynote speech on behalf of the national Labour Party.

In November 1917, representatives of Hereford Trades Council and members of the Independent Labour Party met in the Wellington Hotel in Widemarsh Street to establish Herefordshire Labour Party. John Evans, Honorary Secretary of the Hereford Trades Council, realised that they had no machinery to secure direct representation either locally or nationally. Labour in the county now could speak with one voice and as a party commanding authority. John was elected President of Hereford Labour Party and Sydney Box as Secretary.

Political Education Officer, Roger Windsor, paid tribute to the founder members of Hereford Labour Party and the role of Sydney Box as a trade unionist and socialist throughout his life. Sydney was the first Labour Party Parliamentary candidate in the 1918 General Election. His campaign was thwarted by farmers and land-owners who threatened their workers with eviction from their tied cottages if they dared to support the Labour candidate.

Since 1917 Hereford Labour Party has contested 25 General Elections and three former candidates were present at the Centenary Dinner, Josephine Kelly – 1992, David Hallam – 2001 and Anna Coda - 2015 and 2017.

Mr McDonnell, congratulated Hereford Labour Party on its centenary and passed on a congratulatory message from Jeremy Corbyn.

Josephine Kelly was presented with a long service award by Mr McDonnell. Jo first joined Labour over 50 years ago as a teenager living near Glasgow.

David Hallam, former Labour MEP for Herefordshire, called upon members to come forward as candidates so all Herefordshire County Council seats could be contested by Labour in 2019.

Helen Astley, Trade Union Liaison Officer, proposed the vote of thanks before participants joined together singing Labour’s anthem, The Red Flag.