Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/217

 shall be able to work together to the advantage of our organisation." Looking back now, after seven years experience of Messrs. Bromley and Moore, as General and Assistant Secretaries respectively, we can bear faithful witness to the fact that both of them have amply fulfilled their pledges, and done more still. It is largely due to their zeal, loyalty, and co-operation that the Society, in the seven years 1914-1921, made history in lumps. Much became possible that was not possible before, and membership, funds, and prestige grew apace.

was born at Hadnall, near Shrewsbury, on July 16th, 1876, and was therefore still a young man, bringing the priceless assets of a strong physique, a clear mentality, and a class conscious mind to bear upon a great task in which he was destined to have need of all of them. The General Secretary of the new and greater era began his railway life as a cleaner at Shrewsbury in 1890, and was doing much spare firing and some main line work at the age of sixteen. He was registered fireman in March of 1896, and so became qualified to join the Society of which he was destined to become the central figure. Within two months we find him in branch meetings, serving as fireman and enthusiastic but unofficial organiser at Shrewsbury, Gobowen, Aberdare, and Worcester, on the Great Western. He was promoted driver in 1905, and removed from Worcester to Southall (London), between which two branches he put in eight years service as branch secretary. He first attended the Triennial Conference in 1903, and in the same year was elected a member of the G.W.R. deputation. When the Conciliation Board Scheme was launched he was elected representative of the locomotivemen in the London District. He was President of the memorable Triennial Conference of 1909, and elected Organising Secretary in 1910, being also Secretary of the Locomotive Conciliation Boards on the Hull and Barnsley and the North Staffordshire Railways. Thereafter his activities knew no pause. I can trace his new lead through the last eleven years, first inspiring a campaign for 30,000 members, for 35,000 when that was accomplished, for 40,000 immediately after, for 50,000