Baron de Forest Centenary Dinner
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Last Saturday, (13th Feb) at a gala dinner held at the Royal Clifton, Liberal Democrats commemorated the 100-year anniversary of one of the most contentious elections in Southport's history.
Baron de Forest
After the dinner local historian Mike Braham gave a vivid account of the events and characters involved in that election:
Baron de Forest was supported by Winston Churchill but opposed by his mother-in-law who sat on platforms in support of his Conservative opponent Major Dalyrmple White.
Because of his Jewish ancestry and Catholic beliefs the election was marred by much personal abuse, his opponent running on the slogan "England for the English". Meetings were packed; feelings ran high.
Neither of the principal candidates was from the area though the Baron took a pied a terre at Rosefield Hall. The issue of women's votes raised the temperature further in 1910 with suffragettes interrupting the huge public meetings.
The original election was celebrated with a banquet of 8 course "served by 80 ladies" in the Cambridge Hall.
Before the main talk, Michael Meadowcroft shared memories of the Southport Liberals from the past 50 years.
Photos from Dinner:
