Watford supporters of Oswald Mosley’s Union Movement plan to contest at least one seat in the next Borough elections.

A “Watford Observer” reporter was told this by Mr R.F. Webb, secretary of Union’s branch, at the close of Thursday’s meeting in the Town Hall which Oswald Mosley was billed to address. There was a “fairly good” attendance, no disorder – and no black shirts!

Fifteen minutes after the advertised start, Mr Geoffrey Ham, secretary of the British Union, announced they had heard late the previous evening that 60-year-old Mosley had been taken ill with a very high temperature. Meeting engagements had been cancelled for three weeks but Mosley would come to Watford “as soon as possible”.

Apologising for Mosley’s absence, and offering a refund of ticket money, he invited anyone who wished to leave to do so – but no one went.

The speaker outlined the outlook of the Union Movement. He slated Socialism and Conservatism alike, and urged: “Don’t crawl to East or West, but stand up on your own feet and fight for yourselves.”

[From the Watford Observer of March 1, 1957]