Labour Research June 2003

Reviews

Mr Lewisham - A life of Les Stannard

Helen Tomkins, Lewisham Pensioners' Forum, 120 Rushey Green, London SE6 4HQ, 248 pages, paperback, £3.99

Born in 1919, Les Stannard left school at the age of 14 and trained as an electrician. Three years later he joined the ETU (Electrical Trades Union) and remained a member of it (and its successor) for 52 years.

Early in adulthood he had joined the Communist Party.

This book describes his activities, his work as a shop steward in various firms, his support for the post-war squatters' movement, his backing for the miners' strike during the 1974 Heath government and much else.

He died in 1996 and will long be remembered.