Newspaper cuttings relating to Ron Huzzard

Small collection of newspaper cuttings from the mid 1940s relating to Ron Huzzard

Ronald William Huzzard was born in Hull on 29th February 1920, the son of a printer and active unionist. After studying engineering at Hull Technical College and working for engineering firms he became a member of the Mechanical Engineers Institute. A lifelong Quaker he was a small man with a direct and clear countenance, he was well organised, efficient and always got straight to the point by asking direct questions. He also believed that what was morally wrong could not be politically right.

Although he was working in a reserved occupation during the second world war, attempts were made by the War Office to recruit him and he ultimately went before a tribunal where he successfully defended himself. During the war he joined the Labour Pacifist fellowship, later renamed the Labour Peace Fellowship and was an active campaigner for peace amongst the unions. In 1980 when it was again renamed this time to Labour Action for Peace (LAP) Huzzard served as its first General Secretary. He was a prolific writer producing numerous articles and pamphlets for the LAP on a range of topics including the United Nations and the arms race.

He twice stood as a candidate in elections, in Croydon North West (1955) and then Chislehurst & Sidcup (1964) but was unsuccessful on both occasions. He was a supporter of the United Nations and friends with Philip Noel-Baker, Fenner Brockway and Gordon Schaffer and shared their beliefs for a world body for peace. He was also a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

He was awarded the Frank Cousins Peace Award by the Transport & General Workers Union. After his retirement in 1979 he spent five years working for the Quaker Commission on Peace. He was active locally in Orpington and served on Bromley Borough Council between 1968-1982 and again 1986-1990. He died in Orpington on 30th December 1998.

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The material was donated to the archives by his sister Mrs Dorothy Edwards in January 2000

Records of the No Conscription Fellowship (Willesden Branch), 1916-1968 [Ref U DCO]

Records of Hull Fabian Society, 1943-1948 [Ref U DX217]