On Wednesday 11th January 1888 a meeting took place at Montague Hall for the purpose of establishing a new Liberal & Radical Association for Uxbridge and district.
Mr J. P Rickman the late Liberal candidate for the Uxbridge Division at the general election of 1885 occupied the chair. Those present included Rev J. Adams, Rev R Sewell, Mr W. Rayner and about 80 supporters.
The Chairman stated that "in the past two years politics had nearly gone to sleep in this neighbourhood. an effort had recently been made for a change, and that effort would now take the shape of the formation of a Liberal & Radical club.
Liberal clubs had been formed in a good many parts of the division, and had been attended with success, this being specially the case on the South or Thames Valley side, The Staines Club being the largest. He thought the it was quite time the example set in the Southern portion of the division should be followed in the North,. Premises would shortly be secured and he had no doubt that the efforts would prove successful and that the movement would extend throughout the district , Uxbride being the centre
A committee of 21 was to be established and will hold office for twelve months
The following officers were appointed
President: Mr J.P Rickman
Secretary: J.J. Hoare
Asst secretary: Mr Woods
Treasurer: Rev J. Adams
13 members were elected vice presidents, The rules were agreed
National journal "Liberal & Radical Journal"
Buckinghamshire Advertiser 14th January 1888
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The first annual meeting of the Liberal Council for the Uxbridge Division was held on Wednesday 27th June 1888 at the Uxbridge Town Hall about 60 members attended. With the exception of Hampton all polling districts were well represented.
The chair was taken by Mr J. M Moorsom QC
Secretaries Mr J Gundry and Mr J.J. Hoare
The President said they had assembled as a Council for the first time in their history, he refereed to recent victories in Southampton, Ayr and likely victory in Isle of Thanet
"He was not one of those who were very anxious for the liberals to be hurried into power again, He had always thought that after a great disaster, such as happened to them in 1886, they required some lengthened period to recover themselves. The state of the Liberal party had required purification"
In 1885 the Liberal candidate had been Mr Rickman
Mr Dean stated "Mr Rickman (cheers) might not be unwilling to become liberal candidate again, more especially as he withdrawn himself from that unfortunate heresy with which he was afflicted in 1886 when he associated with that detestable party, the Dissentient Liberals, however, he had since been accepted as the candidate for the Peckham division
Mr Hoare reported on Liberal activities in the north and Mr F. Morford in the South of the Division
Arthur King Staines
Mr Callam Staines
Mr A Dean Bedfont
Mr F Finch Uxbridge
John Wilkins Uxbridge
Mr CuthmCuthbert
mr F. A Wallroth
Buckinghamshire Advertiser 30th June 1888
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James Marshall the President of the new Liberal & Radical Association which has been formed here
Mr James Marshall of the Corn Mills, Heston, Hounslow is a man of whom the liberal party should be proud, and not only proud, but should make good use of him. He was born in Heston in 1838 and in the prime of life, very active and a hard worker in every cause he knows will do good to his fellow man. Mr Marshall is locally reported by every section of the community for his genial kindness as a neighbour, and for his industrious efforts for the public welfare.
he is a member of the local Board of his district since its formation in 1875 and is chairman of the works committee. he has been a member of the Board of Guardians since 1862 and although his Tory opponents have tried to oust him, he has at each contest been returned by an increasing majority. Mr Marshall is a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and one of the leaders of the temperance Party
Buckinghamshire Advertiser 19th May 1888
Note:
Staines also had a Conservative working Mens Club In May 1888 Conservative MP Dixon-Hartland Uxbridge Division referred to the Staines Conservative Working Mens Club established being established by the efforts of Frank Ashby (note Staines Brewery owner ?) according to Dixon- Hartland "It had a small beginning but had become a great power for work on behalf of the Conservative cause"
Sidney Job Pocock
Liberal Candidate 1906 and 1910
The name was agreed as Uxbridge Liberal & Radical Club and Association
Born 13 September 1854 Died 1931
at Broome Manor, Swindon, Wiltshire
Eighth son of Abraham and LydiaPocock
Tenant farmer from West Of England
Moved to London 1875 "Without a shilling"
Set up business with Mr F.H.Freeth wholesale milk contractor dairy farmer, which prospered into a major company and became chairman of Freeth & Pocock Ltd. later Director of Dairy Outfit Company Limited.
1894 elected Governor Metropolitan Dairyman's Benevolent Institution
Pocock had written widely on agriculture
1892 married Annie Cozens of Brockley (died 1900 during child birth) later married Kate Ethel
Visited Canada three time
Pocock was a non-conformist preacher and regular speaker at Brotherhood (Religious) meetings
Lived at Charlton Court near Shepperton (from last year)1904 and later at Surbiton Hall, Kingston
At the1906 General election Pocock came within200 votes of defeating long standingConservative and founder of the Primrose League Dixon-Hartland in Uxbeidge parliamentary election F.D. Dixon-Hartland Con 6,429 50.6%
Sidney J Pocock Lib 6,284 49.4%
In 1912 he was knighted
He lost two sons killed in World War I (Sidney Norman Pocock- Corporal in Royal engineers killed February 1915 and Beric Edmund Pocock Lieutenant - London Rifle Brigade May 1916)
At an Liberal meeting on March 19th 1904 at Salem Baptist Church school room.
Christopher Roundell (?) stated they were fighting against money and power and besides the ordinary opposition there were those underground influences which were always in operation when they could not fix, the influence exerted by the Tory squire and Tory Parson.
In 1905 Women’s Association of Liberals in Uxbridge had four branches (Teddington being the largest)
"Liberalism had been dead and dormant in the division for 20 years" and it was 12 years since they last fought
Pocock was described as "an extremely popular candidate with a bluff and hearty manner winning the admiration of friends and opponents alike"
