The
Robert Tressell Society,
(formerly "The Robert Tressell Centre"
4 Church Road, St.Leonards on
sea, East Sussex, TN37 6EF
VISITORS PAGE -
Last Century (pre 31/12/1999)
Rereading the "Ragged Trousered Philanthropists" again after a number of years, I was shocked though not surprised to see how little the situation of the working class has changed since 1907. Perhaps somebody should make sure the Cabinet also rereads it to remind them why they joined the Labour Party in the first place.
My Father and Grandfather were both painters, grainers and signwriters in and around the London area. They recognised every character in Tressells work and often told me tales of their working lives that could have easily come out of the pages of the 'RTP'. Conditions for working men seemed to be the same across the country at the end of the ninteenth century, but without the work of people such as Tressell the hardships suffered could so easily be forgotten. I would be interested in obtaining a copy of 'One of the Damned and hope that you can get it re-published.
I found RTP some 5 yrs ago in the Coffs Harbour library, since then a flood destroyed the only volume. My search continues Great site great author, great Scott, what's happening to Australia is just what Tressell wrote of nearly 100 years ago
I found RTP some 5 yrs ago in the Coffs Harbour library, since then a flood destroyed the only volume. My search continues Great site great author, great Scott, what's happening to Australia is just what Tressell wrote of nearly 100 years ago
I remember vaugely the dramatisation of the RTP and have searched in vain for some time for a copy (should we be suprised that the BBC would destroy a piece of working class theatre ?) . Perhaps a new dramatistion by the BBC - after all it seems to love costume drama's - why not a few ragged ones ?
I read the book 40 years ago and was greatly impressed. That's why I tried to find information about Tressell on the internet, and was very surprised to find so much. Greetings from the Netherlands.
do you know about the public subscription to give robert noonan and others a gravestone in walton cemetery liverpool ?
Congratulations. Great site for a great man. Our present labour leadership would do well to pay more attention to the likes of Robert Tressell than the American management consultants they seem to love so much.
I've nearly finished reading the book and it has been one of the most moving experiences of my life.
My grandfather was a painter at around that time and now I have an insight into how his life must have been.
I would be very interested also to know if any other copies of this performance exist.I am a PhD student and have used the joint stock's 1978 production of RTP as an example of British socialist theatre, in my research. A really useful discussion of the lasting relevance of Tressel's book and the issues it raises can be found in the journal of the joint stock theatre companies rehearsal diary which notes some of the problems they had in getting to the heart of the book's meanings. A transcript of the journal can be obtained from the Dartington college library for only a few pounds.
I saw thw original broadcast of the play by the B.B.C. , l and indeed it prompted me to search out the original work. Is there an Irish dimension to the Robert Tressel appreciation as I would be interested to learn more
I am working on a biography of J.T.Bain, a Scottish trade unionist and sympathiser of Irish nationalism, who was a founder of the labour movement in South Africa. I am certain that Bain knew Tressell in his Johannesburg period. I would be grateful if anybody could point me toward sources on Tressell in South Africa (other than Ball's book).
Thanks for all your hard work ,Ion. My brother, Phil, will be getting in touch to talk about old times at HCAT. Last week Ann and I visited Robert Noonan's grave in Walton Park Cemetery. We also spoke to John Nettleton ,who is looking forward to joining us for the Event next year. Best wishes, Neil.
Are you open anytime to receive visitor's
we need to remember
please, please, Lawrence and Wishart, reprint One of the Damned as soon as possible.
An enlightening view of the aims of socialism and its direct effect on ordinary people
I would be very interested in acquiring a copy of this book.
I have looked up this very interesting site for a friend who has recently started reading the RTP book. He is amazed that there is very little information on Tressell available. He will be very pleased with this. Congratulations!
I'll be back.
What a lovely suprise to come across this website! I would be very interested in purchasing a copy of F C Ball's brilliant book - please let me know if this is ever likely!
I once saw a version of trtp performed in Mold, N.wales. A theatre in the round production. Just excellent
I have read the book, unlike some Tressell fans I have met!
Tressell's book mis probably the the most influential I have ever read I think you are doing a fine job keeping the memory of a great man and his work alive.
If there is a 2000 event please notify me. Am at present re-reading Ragged... it still continues to inspire, amuse and sadden. Long may it remain published.
Congratulations on your Tressell page. I wrote an article called "The Story of Robert Tressell" in the Architects Journal. It was published on 27 Jan 1988 (p90) and 3 Feb 1988 (p73). I had heard of Tressell's wonderful book throughout my childhood, people forever mentioned "The Raggeds" but I never managed to buy a copy until I found a copy priced 15/- in a Bookshop in Holborn. I did make contact with Fred Ball and wanted him to come and talk to my students in Canterbury School of Architecture. Unfortunately his daughter said he was not well enough to travel. Like Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" I can say this was a book which really changed my life. If you would like a copy of the articles please email me.
Yours Sam Webb Chartered Architect RIBA
Great book! Any plans for a picnic next year?
Truth & Insperation.
Chers amis,
Do you have a french translation of "The ragged trousered philanthropists" ? I am a former scotsman fighting in France with others againt the unemployment and outcasting since 16 years. This book and your internet site will help us in our struggle and we will be referencing your web site later on in august on our web page
//perso.club-internet.fr/mouv4x8/assoslst.htm
You can find our home page is at
//perso.club-internet.fr/mouv4x8/index.htm
and you can check up on us from some press cuttings at
//perso.club-internet.fr/mouv4x8/indexFR3.htm
We will be contacting you later but in the meantime we would appréciate the infos on a french translation of the book.
Thanks
John MITCHELL
Great site!
Best Wishes
RT reminds us that, fundamentally, little has changed. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Time for change!
RT reminds us that the welfare state for all its imperfections has removed the spectre of the workhouse from the lives of working people
Searched out this site after ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’ got a mention on the Billy Bragg guestbook. I am having difficulty reading the red on grey but the content is excellent.….I would definitely buy a copy of the book and a video of the play if they were on sale. Tressell's book was a fundamental part of my political education. I remember the play well but don't think we had a video recorder at the time. Forward to Peace and Socialism!
I first read about Tressels work by reading Brendan Behans works many years ago. If "One of the Dammed" becomes available I would like to read it.
I am looking for a VHS copy of Give Us This Day. Can anyone help.
I played Robert Tressell in the one-man show that toured nationally in 1990/91 (80 shows). We performed in Dublin, Liverpool (near his grave) and Hastings where Noonan's Grandaughter came to see the play. The script of the play was published. Do you have a copy? Do you want one? regards Mike McCarthy
p.s I think the Fred Ball book should definately be reprinted.
i have been a devotee of tressell since my days in england in the 50's his life was, of course, a resounding success it's difficult for me over the years to really appreciate his significance to me his basic innocence--i mean this in the best sense--can provide an antidote to the wretched excesses committed in labour's name danintheapple.
I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN ONE OF THE DAMNED.
Very nice site. Can you assist me to locate "Ragged Trousered Pphilanthropists" online? Thank you.
Thanks for an excellent weekend at the Tressell event. Hope that it continues and goes from strength to strength. Would love to take a more active part if there is a next time, contributing eather musically (I have a wide repertory of socialist songs) or through a presentation based on my continuing research into Tressell. Good luck for the centre in the future!
One of the Damned should be reprinted as soon as possible.Many people here in Australia would definately order copies.
Happy to find the site. Please keep informed with regard to Tressell BBC programme. Would be interested in "One of the Dammed"
i am very interested
//www.greatdome.net always an admirer of lost art!
Hi great site. I live right by Walton cemetry where I believe R Noonan is buried. Would you know where about exactly? I would like to visit his grave, remarkable man. Thanks, Peter.
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is a wonderful book and I recommend it to everyone to read. Anything that promotes it or the author should be encouraged.
Please put me on any mailing list for forthcoming events etc... & many thanks for opening this site for RT fans
Facinatiing pages. I have for a long time been interested in the social history of the late 19th to early 20th century. The womens's suffrage movement. I heard this story on radio 4, many years ago. I'm halfway through the book. It was difficult to get a copy from the library. I have now purchased it, the full text. This bookshould be considered amongst the modern classics and put onto the school reading list.
We are publicising your event
Wow!! What a great website!! Looking forward to the festival....
Great new stuff! Good pics.....Your new camera has obviously got a 'vintage picture simulation mode' clever stuff. All the best Clifford
Hi, The publisher "Logos" has published extracts of "One of the Damned" for one pound. It is available via //www.bookshop.co.uk/ for 90 pence plus p&p
HTH
yes I would definately want another copy of the book One of the Dammed lets hope it will be republished soon. I was given the RTP to read when on holiday in 1990 and have re read it several times and given many copies to others to read. It has also led me to many other books. Wish we could be in England to visit the centre, may be one day. Good luck.
I am reading the book for the second time. About 10 years ago I went to see the play (Theatre in the round) Lancaster. At the end of the play a young man (from the audience) who was unfortunately afflicted with Downs Syndrome, walked onto the stage, picked up a pint pot, from the 'beano' table, hoisted it aloft and shouted "What about the workers", It brought a tear to my eye.
The society that Tressell described in RTP sank from view for a short period in Britain from 1945 to 1979. Since then,the return to free market economics and the relentless pursuit of money have made that great work even more relevant to our understanding of the world. One of the enduring problems it poses, for me at any rate, is the role of culture in capitalism. Tressell seems to suggest that 'high' culture represents civilisation and that capitalism has not time for it. Whether 'high'culture really does represent civilisatiuon is a moot point, but Tressell was surely right to say that it did not count for capitalism unless it could be translated into commercial terms. This question seems to me to have a huge bearing on present day cultural studies which, far from attacking capitalism, encourage us to celebrate the subversive pleasures of consumerism. Am I just an old puritan. And even if I am, don't I still have a point?
I would appreciate it if someone could e-mail me if this becomes available again.
Thanks
want to learn more
Have just been speaking to you, so couldn't resist looking in to your website. Good luck with the Festival!
always loved the strong sweet innocence of t felicitations on your celebration of this glorious man's life
danintheapple
The best book I have ever read. I recently put it forward as my favourite book in my school's reading week. I'm not having much luck getting kids to read it although the Head of English has at my suggestion given it to his A level kids to study.
I am from Bootle originally and have never visited the grave. Just thought I'd confess.
A book once read never forgotten (although the relevance of its message has faded with time).
I first read the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists twenty five years ago and still consider it the best book i have ever read. It says it all. I also discovered last year that my great grandfather was a house painter in Leith near Edinburgh at the same time as Robert Tressall/Noonan was one in the Hastings area which makes it even more meaningful for me. Any more information about the man would be welcome and surely a film is long overdue.
American students are among those around the world who study Tressell AND write Ph.D. dissertations on this Hastings artist. YES, Ball's book would sell. It's long overdue in being reissued!
the orginal working class hero
Ashamed but delighted to have just found out about Tressell-courtesy of a Guardian crossword ref. Good Luck.
A long time admirer of Robert Tressell and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, I am from the area of Liverpool were he lies buried (in a paupers grave). Next time, I am home, I will take a photograph of the grave stone, which is detailed with his image and a short passage from the book. You could perhaps make use of this on the web-site.
It was searching for an E-Text of the Book
I would like to know why St. Andrews was demolished, if you could please. thank you, Christopher James Rousseau
I`ve been a long-time fan of the book, but I`d never seen his painting before. What a splendid site this is!
Please pass on any further info re May 99 event at above address. thanks
Could you please email me and let me know where I can buy a copy of "TRTP", preferably in Australia, but I am happy to order from the UK.
Thank you
Am currently reading "one of the Damned"!
I found tressell's book very interesting, but easy to read and understand. It makes a change for books on subjects such as Socialism to written in away the majority of the population can read and understand. For example writers such as Karl Marx. Also I have read "one of the damned" by Fred Ball and would be very interested in buying a copy if it is reprinted. As my grandfather who has died, worked in Hastings at the time Tressell wrote.
Saw the play in London with my friend the Hastings stained-glass artist Alan Wright, years ago. Very moving.
I support the move to republish One of the Damned; I would also suggest republishing a Grotto for Miss Marnier, also by Fred Ball.
I recently read the book. Now I've read the webpage. I feel the time is right for a film to be based on this novel.
good pictures.....Great site
This is the only web site that solved a really ingenious, if frustrating crossword clue. Thank you.
The song "A Tribute to Robert Tressell" written by Martin Whelan and sung by Fergus Whelan will be released next week on CD. It is part of the SONGS OF IRISH LABOUR album. To find out more about the CD, see //www.dcu.ie/~comms/hsheehan/cd1.htm or //www.dcu.ie/~comms/hsheehan/lsongs.htm The CD can be ordered for £10 + £3 (post+packing) from breadandroses2@tinet.ie
Helena Sheehan, Dublin
I have just started to read the ragged trousered philanthropist and I can already tell that this was written by a man who had great vision and a hope for the future of our society.
if anyone could forward any names of relevant material by or about Robert Tressel to me at the above email address i would be grateful.
i am fred c ball, grandaughter and was pleased to see your web site.
I read the book many years ago. It has been an inspiration.
Cheers for the help with the crossword
I first read this book out of sheer boredom with nothing else available when I was 14. I am now 45 and I still rate it as the best book I have ever read.
Cool!
The RTPs is a thought provoking book, that I waited too long to read. I believe, it is James Dean Bradfield@s (of the Manic Street Preachers) favourite book, so praise indeed!
I am looking forward to your commemoration of this extremely significant book.
please send further info re: the up and coming Robert Tressell event to the above e-mail addrress, thank you.
hello can you give me the title of the RAGGED ....ETC IN FRENCH THANKS
Well done Hastings Comrades for getting the Centre and the Festival off the ground. A dream of mine for so long now is coming true. A chance for a plug I feel. 'Robert Tressell's Hastings' A guide to the sights of 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' See Cricketers, Tressell's Homes and More.£ 2.50 payable to T.Hopper at 15a Hartington Road Brighton BN2 3LJ 01273-677890. Guided tours by arrangement
Hi. Great to find your site. We have just recorded an original song about Robert Tressell, which will be on a CD called Songs of Irish Labour to be released on 1 Dec 1998. To find out more about our project, see //www.dcu.ie/~comms/hsheehan/lsongs.htm and ../cd1.htm. I have put some of our songs on the web as mp2 files and I may do so with this one as well. In any case you may want to link with our site. I intend to put in a link to this page where we refer to RT and the song. All the best to you. Helena Sheehan, Bread and Roses Productions, Dublin.
Could be a good sponsorship opportunity. More appropriate for a local company rather than a nationally focused one.
Hey, look Ion I found it!
Wow! I do not belive this, a Robert. Tressell page! I have read all 633 pages of "Ragged-Trousedred.." and enjoyed it. keep up the great work!
Good wishes to RT Centre. Have read Trevor Hopper's booklet on RT and Hastings. A marvellous little production.
Interested in More Information.... Thanks for the Information
XL(2000) Ltd. are sponsors of 1066.net. Hastings' favourite web site
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