1980

James Callaghan, Labour Leader, supported the campaign to save Dorset school dinners. Jack Boddy, General Secretary of the NUAAW, spoke.

The march in 1980.

1981

Ron Hayward, General Secretary of the Labour Party and John Hose, President NUAAW, spoke.

1982

Jack Boddy and John Ashman, Regional Secretary, welcomed farm workers into the T&G. Campaign for £120 a week was launched.

1983

Michael Foot MP, Labour Leader, spoke. The People’s March for Jobs was fighting Tory job cuts.

1984

150th anniversary saw a huge turn out, Neil Kinnock, Labour Leader, headed a list of top speakers. Len Murray TUC General Secretary was taken ill. A new plaque was unveiled at the Old Court, Dorchester. The campaign to restore unions rights at GCHQ is featured for the first time.

see more about the anniversary here: 1984 150th anniversary

1985

Roy Hattersley MP, Norman Willis, TUC General Secretary and Ron Todd, T&G General Secretary, spoke against the government’s decision to abolish wages councils.

1986

Joan Maynard MP and Ken Gill, TUC President, spoke. The feature film Comrades was released.

1987

Gerald Kaufman MP and Norman Willis gave support to GCHQ and Wapping workers. The Wrong End of the World, a drama by Graham Padden was staged at the Salisbury Playhouse.

1988

Brenda Dean, SOGAT General Secretary, joined Ron Todd, Jack Jones, President of the Pensioners’ Association, Norman Willis, Barry Leathwood, David Clark MP and Dick Robinson, a striking seaman.

1989

James Hammett’s silver watch was stolen from museum. Gordon Brown MP,  Tony Christopher, TUC President and Peter Webster, T&G spoke.

1990

Bryan Gould MP and Ron Todd, T&G General Secretary, spoke.

1991

John Smith, Shadow Chancellor, and Rodney Bickerstaffe spoke.

1992

Tony Blair MP, Shadow Employment Minister, Bill Morris and Rodney

Bickerstaffe spoke.

1993

Margaret Beckett MP and Alan Tuffin, TUC President, spoke.

1994

Speakers: John Prescott MP, John Monks, TUC General Secretary and Jimmy Knapp, NUR and TUC President.

Tony Blair with Bill Morris

1995

David Blunkett MP, Bill Morris, John Monks, Leif Mills, BIFU and TUC President and Joan Maynard MP spoke.

1996

Oliver Trevett introduced “Ladies Day” with Pauline Green MEP and Leader of Socialist Group, Jean Corston MP, Margaret Prosser T&G and TUC President and Sue Longley T&G. Hilary Armstrong MP gave Methodist Address.