Crooks was a leading figure in the early days of the Labour movement (the 4th ever Labour MP and the first Labour Mayor in London). I've read two of the biographies on his life. From Workhouse to Westminster by George Haw is a good read, although it doesn't cover the whole life of Crooks. I think it was written in 1908 or something like that and Crooks' political career lasted until 1921 when he died. I just read a more recent account on his life and that book covered his whole life, and what a life it was. It's quite a story. That book is: Where there's a Will, there's a way, by jim Crooks.
Crooks was quite the character by all accounts and as a boy actually spent time in the Poplar Workhouse. I'm an older East Ender, an area where Crooks is still remembered as quite the local hero. There is even a Housing Estate named after him in Poplar. There is a great old clip on Pathe News of his funeral where thousands of people lined the streets of London to pay their last respects. Shops closed and flags flew at half-mast too. I can't imagine too many of today's politicians getting a send off like that, can you? I tried to post the link to the clip on Pathe News of Crooks' funeral but it was marked as spam. it's well worth googling for 'Pathe News Will Crooks funeral'.
It's a shame that many people like Joetexx haven't heard of Crooks, because even today we take for granted many of the things that Crooks campaigned for and won in his remarkable life and career.
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Date: 2012-11-11 02:20 am (UTC)Crooks was quite the character by all accounts and as a boy actually spent time in the Poplar Workhouse. I'm an older East Ender, an area where Crooks is still remembered as quite the local hero. There is even a Housing Estate named after him in Poplar. There is a great old clip on Pathe News of his funeral where thousands of people lined the streets of London to pay their last respects. Shops closed and flags flew at half-mast too. I can't imagine too many of today's politicians getting a send off like that, can you? I tried to post the link to the clip on Pathe News of Crooks' funeral but it was marked as spam. it's well worth googling for 'Pathe News Will Crooks funeral'.
It's a shame that many people like Joetexx haven't heard of Crooks, because even today we take for granted many of the things that Crooks campaigned for and won in his remarkable life and career.