Barry spoke at Brent Trades Council’s celebration of the centenary of the Willesden Trades and Labour Hall’s constitution. The trades hall has played a key role in the political, economic and social history of Willesden and then Brent since the early 20th century, being a focal point for trade union meetings and strike committees as the unions grew in strength on the industrial estates of Park Royal, the North Circular Road and Cricklewood.
The iconic building, which is now in a state of disrepair, has witnessed the rich, working class, fighting back history of the borough and has hosted some of the greatest orators of the labour movement over many decades. Barry talked about how thrilled he was at the plans to restore and relaunch the hall and the adjacent London Apollo Club to serve as a labour and community centre again, at a time of increasing confidence and a definite sense of a revival of the trade unions.
Read more about the hall’s history in the Morning Star newspaper here
