Brunel back in electoral battle!
Posted on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 ·
For most of his life Isambard Kingdom Brunel was too busy building bridges (and ships and much else) to get much embroiled in political battles – but there’s an interesting exception. Just before he became Engineer to the Great Western Railway he gave useful support to his Radical brother-in-law, Benjamin Hawes, in the 1832 election at Lambeth, South London, to the reformed House of Commons.
At a Christmas Lunch Party of the North Cornwall Liberal Democrats Brunel was back on the battlefield, raising funds for the coming election! Two signed copies of Brunel’s Hidden Kingdom by historian and Lib-Dem supporter, Geoff Tudor, (retail price £19.50 each) raised a total sum of £125 at auction. He was delighted at this achievement, and further copies will be available at other Lib-Dem functions in the New Year.
Mr Tudor said, “Brunel’s powerful aversion to ‘big and bossy’ government might well have aligned him with the Liberal Democrats today.”
Local MP, Dan Rogerson said, “Brunel made friends and conciliated opponents among all classes of electors and politicians of every hue. He met large groups of working men on several occasions during the elections in 1832 and very much of the success achieved was down to Brunel’s energy and good judgement. “
Constituency Chairman, Steve Rogerson added: ”Unlike the Conservative Party, we aren’t bankrolled by big business or offshore multi-millionaires. It’s the kind donations of our local people, like Geoff Tudor, which fund our campaigns in the area. The lunch was a great success, and we’re very grateful to everyone who attended, and to all those across North Cornwall who support us with their time and donations, however small, throughout the year.”
Local MP Dan Rogerson with author Geoff Tudor, looking at his latest publication, Brunel's Hidden Kingdom
For most of his life Isambard Kingdom Brunel was too busy building bridges (and ships and much else) to get much embroiled in political battles – but there’s an interesting exception. Just before he became Engineer to the Great Western Railway he gave useful support to his Radical brother-in-law, Benjamin Hawes, in the 1832 election at Lambeth, South London, to the reformed House of Commons.
At a Christmas Lunch Party of the North Cornwall Liberal Democrats Brunel was back on the battlefield, raising funds for the coming election! Two signed copies of Brunel’s Hidden Kingdom by historian and Lib-Dem supporter, Geoff Tudor, (retail price £19.50 each) raised a total sum of £125 at auction. He was delighted at this achievement, and further copies will be available at other Lib-Dem functions in the New Year.
Mr Tudor said, “Brunel’s powerful aversion to ‘big and bossy’ government might well have aligned him with the Liberal Democrats today.”
Local MP, Dan Rogerson said, “Brunel made friends and conciliated opponents among all classes of electors and politicians of every hue. He met large groups of working men on several occasions during the elections in 1832 and very much of the success achieved was down to Brunel’s energy and good judgement. ”
Constituency Chairman, Steve Rogerson added: ”Unlike the Conservative Party, we aren’t bankrolled by big business or offshore multi-millionaires. It’s the kind donations of our local people, like Geoff Tudor, which fund our campaigns in the area. The lunch was a great success, and we’re very grateful to everyone who attended, and to all those across North Cornwall who support us with their time and donations, however small, throughout the year.”
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