Meeting of the Social Democratic Federation outside the Queens Hotel, Hastings in June 1907. Robert and Kathleen Noonan are both in the audience.

Museum Accession No: HASMG 989.34.79
Fred Ball collection
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Members of the Independent Labour Party, Hastings Branch standing on the seafront with a banner designed by Robert Noonan.

The central image is of the writing serpent, capitalism, being strangled by a shirt sleeved worker. On either side are torches wreathed in scrolls.

The banner was first used in 1910 at a beach meeting in Hastings addressed by Tom Kennedy. This photograph was taken in 1938. The banner disappeared during the Second World War & its current whereabouts is unknown.

Museum Accession No: HASMG 989.34.87
Fred Ball collection
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Toby King, a colourful local character, well known for his Radicalism and free thinking.

By trade a market gardener & contractor, King held classes for working men in reading, writing, history & politics. These took place at his home in Hollington then a village outside Hastings.

King was a great campaigner, playing an active role in the 1885 Reform Bill demonstrations and, writing a pamphlet on "Ireland's Woes & Ireland's Foes". He was also a leading member of the Hastings branch of the National Democratic League. Although King died in 1899 before Noonan came to Hastings many of his pupils were Noonan's colleagues.

Museum Accession No: HASMG 994.69.11
Fred Ball collection
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Toby King in his coffin.

Amongst other eccentricities, King had a coffin made in which he could stand & contemplate the vanities of human life.

Museum Accession No: HASMG 989.34.92
Fred Ball collection
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Tom Kennedy

Kennedy came to Hastings in November 1906 with the National Clarion Van, a traveling initiative to promote Socialism which was linked to the Clarion newspaper.

He spoke at meetings organized through the Hastings branch of the Social Democratic Federation. These took place at the Fishmarket or in Harold Place. Another museum photograph shows Robert and Kathleen Noonan attending one of these meetings.

Museum Accession No: HASMG 989.34.93
Fred Ball collection
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National Clarion Van in 1914

This postcard belonged to Noonan's Hastings friend Edward Cruttenden who was a fellow member of the Social Democratic Federation.

Museum Accession No: HASMG 989.34.97
Fred Ball collection
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Welsh miners choir who toured the Hastings area during a lockout & were looked after by local supporters.

Museum Accession No: HASMG 989.34.98
Fred Ball collection
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Socialist Literature Depot at 51, Roberston Street, Hastings with a display of banners for the Independent Labour Party & Church Socialist League c.1906.

Museum Accession No: HASMG 989.34.100
Fred Ball collection
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Socialist Party membership card belonging to C. Deadman of the Queens Hotel, Hastings, 1913-1914

Museum Accession No: HASMG 989.34.3
Fred Ball collection
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Socialist Democratic Party membership card belonging to C. Deadman of Hughenden Road, Hastings, 1910

Museum Accession No: HASMG 989.34.7
Fred Ball collection
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National Democratic League membership card belonging to A.Sellings of Hastings, 1906

Museum Accession No: HASMG 989.34.9
Fred Ball collection
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