The launching of a local branch of the anti-Nazi League passed off without incident this week, despite a death threat to the campaign leader Peter Hain (pictured, centre).
Also in the picture are Mike Jackson, secretary Watford Anti-Racist Committee, and Gurdial Chhina.
Watford police staged a massive security operation around the town’s central library where the meeting was held on Monday night.
It followed a call by a man with an Irish accent to an evening paper. He claimed a Nazi assassination squad armed with self-loading rifles would kill Mr Hain.
Police contacted Mr Hain but he decided to go ahead with the meeting and was smuggled into Watford Library through a side entrance.
“The call turned out to be a hoax,” said Watford police Chief Superintendent Norman Bangs.
“But we weren’t going to take any chances.”
[From the Watford Observer of July 7, 1978]
NOSTALGIA NOTE: The Right Honourable Peter Hain, now aged 64, is a Labour MP who has represented Neath since 1991. He has declared his intention to stand down at next year’s General Election.
ONLINE TOMORROW: Watford printers and their part in the Great War
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