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Trade union activist’s story to be told in new play and book
Elaine Pritchard and William Walker bring to light the forgotten story of early 20th century industrial organiser Vale Rawlings
One of the commemorative postcards of Vale Rawlings, issued following his release from prison in 1914. It is signed ‘Yours in the workers cause, Vale W. Rawlings’ [Image courtesy of the Vale Rawlings family]

THE forgotten story of trade union activist Vale Rawlings is being retold in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, to mark the 110th anniversary of a court case that was the talk of Britain in the weeks leading up to World War I. 

Writer Elaine Pritchard unearthed Rawlings’ story, while doing local history research, and took it to William Walker, secretary of East Staffordshire Trades Union Council. 

Willliam said: “My trade union comrades and I had not heard of Vale before, but it quickly became clear that this was a powerful story that deserved to be in the spotlight again.”

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