Following on from the previous post on the plaque found in Jaunty Park.
Councillor Peter Price has been on Sheffield City Council for 48 years and knew Elsie & Albert Richardson. He said that Elsie Richardson was also a Councillor for the Birley Ward in 1967 and stood down in 1974 on its reorganisation. She may have been the Councillor before 1967 but he can’t find any records.
Albert Richardson lost the Moor seat in 1960 to the Tories. He won the Handsworth seat in in 1964 and then on the Local Government reorganisation he won the new Gleadless Ward in 1974 the year Elsie stood down. He was elected Lord Mayor in 1975
Albert was one of the Founding Members of the Sheffield Woodcraft Folk back in the early 1920’s. The following information is from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woodcraft_Folk which states “The Woodcraft Folk has always been “committed to issues of social justice, pacifism and the principles of cooperation” and described itself in 1930 as a “powerful educational instrument”. A slogan of Woodcraft Folk is Span the world with friendship, it also uses “Education for Social Change” in its publicity and also constitutional documents.
Woodcraft Folk is not based upon any particular religious belief or national identity. The core values are that irrespective of social background, status, age, gender, sexual orientation etc. all members have an equal say in the decision making process. The organisation welcomes all young people whether they have a religious background or none and much of its work emphasises the importance of international understanding and friendship. The principles of peace and co-operation are therefore central to everything they do and they endeavour to develop members to have an understanding of some of the issues behind global poverty and conflict in the belief in fashioning a new, better world.”
Albert was also very active in The Sheffield Ramblers Federation where the ‘Abbey Brook Trespass’ emerged, a few months after the Kinder Trespass. It never gets the same publicity as Kinder does but many thousands took part.
Pete thinks Elsie was also an active member of the Woodcraft both she and Albert loved telling them all the story that they had an Official Woodcraft Folk Wedding. He can’t seem to find any records of it but they did have photographs.
His final comments are that “They were both great socialists”. Further information will be posted when uncovered.