SIR,
I thought your readers might be interested to know that my father-in-law, the late Harold Middleton, was Michael Foot's agent when he stood for Monmouth in the general election of 1935.
Harold Middleton, who at that time lived in the Narth and went on to be head postmaster at Monmouth GPO, was a lifelong socialist and very involved in the local political scene.
Mr Middleton maintained a lifelong friendship with Michael Foot, who visited the family at the Narth and, just before the war, at Lydart.
Jane Middleton
(Monmouth)
SIR,
The passing of Michael Foot brought back to mind the day my wife and I had the privilege to entertain him to lunch in 1974, at the Civic Centre in Gravesend, Kent.
Discussion during the meal naturally included the politics of the day, trade unionism and CND – a favourite subject of his – but then turned to a more personal topic.
Having undoubtedly noticed that neither my wife nor I had south-east London accents, he enquired where we were from. My wife's reply was "Monmouth". He sat bolt upright in his chair, eyes wide open, and said, "I know Monmouth very well."
He had first stood for Parliament in 1935, in Monmouth, at the age of 22. With a large smile on his face, he said, "I was standing on a platform outside the Shire Hall, in Agincourt Square, about to make a public speech, when all I could see before me was a blue swathe of hats worn by all the ladies. I knew instantly I was a doomed candidate."
In later years, he became one of the greatest parliamentarians of the 20th century, and will be missed by all shades of political colour.
David Waring
(Wyesham)