Interview about the North Buckinghamshire Labour Party Women's Section (c1918).

In the second interview Lilian Johnson continues her recollections about women and politics c1918. The women in the Labour Party seemed older, and more experienced, perhaps because they had worked in the Printing Works and she had never worked in a factory. Discusses the North Bucks women’s section meetings, the formation of the North Bucks women’s executive, and the yearly ‘Women’s Day’. Mentions the main personalities and how very good speakers would attract an audience large enough to fill Wolverton’s Picture Palace Cinema.

The first Labour Party Women’s Conference, held in London, lasted for three days, and speakers included Ramsey McDonald, Philip Snowden, John Clines, Tony Greenwood, Matt Down and his daughter Ishmael. On this occasion L.J and delegates paid their own conference expenses but subsequently they pooled resources and sent just one delegate. With the regional growth of the women’s section Lilian travelled all over the country, and chaired North Bucks conferences. She refers to the attitude of the male labour members to the women, noting ‘they were frightened to death of a Labour woman getting on the platform’, and how one man refused to ‘let a woman go on the platform… you’re alright for making the tea… we had to educate them past that sort of thing’.

Remembers the Jarrow marchers passing through Wolverton and how one man worked all night to mend their shoes, while the marchers were fed and slept in the Works canteen. They only stayed for a few hours and then continued their walk.

Briefly discusses the Urban District Council.