Saturday, 18 July 2009

NEW PUBLICATION FROM THE PEEL SOCIETY

The Tamworth based Peel Society honours the memory of Sir Robert Peel, twice Home Secretary and Prime Minister, M.P. for Tamworth and squire of Drayton.  He is best known for founding the Metropolitan Police in 1829, 180 years ago.  Also commemorated in 2009 are the 200th anniversary of Peel's entry into the House of Commons and the 175th anniversary of the Tamworth Manifesto, the world's first party political manifesto.

In 2000, the Society commemorated the 150th anniversary of Peel's sudden death with a lecture series in Tamworth's famous old Town Hall, where Peel had many meetings with the electors.  As part of this commemoration, Professor Norman Gash, the leading modern biographer of Peel, wrote an essay entitled 'Peel and Posterity', which reviews how Peel's reputation changed over 150 years.  The Peel Society has published Professor Gash's last essay for the Society as a mark of respect following his recent demise at the age of 97.

In addition to the essay, the booklet reviews the Peel Collection, which is on show at Middleton Hall.  2009 is also the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Peel Society in 1979.  In the intervening years, the Society has flourished and built up an international membership.  Funds have been raised by the hard work of members.  This has enabling The Chairman and Hon. Curator to build up a unique collection of memorabilia about the Peel family and the police.

Why is the former owner of Drayton Manor so important in our history?  He was the bridge between the old closed aristocratic government of the C18th and the modern democratic government of the C20th.  As Douglas Hurd points out in his recent biography, Peel also had the foresight to understand that a prosperous working class would give the country social stability.  He achieved this with The Repeal of the Corn Laws, introducing free trade, particularly on food, leading to cheaper food for the working man.  When Peel died from a riding accident in 1850 numerous statues were erected in his memory, paid for by the donations of the working man, expressing their respect and sadness.  Some of these statues are illustrated in the 'Peel and Posterity' booklet.

As a celebration of our 30th anniversary, the Society is going to distribute free the 'Peel and Posterity' booklets to all primary and secondary schools in the Tamworth area at the beginning of the autumn term.  The Society also offers an educational service to local schools.

The booklets are on sale at the Tamworth Information Centre in Market Street, the Upper Lodge shop in the Castle grounds and the Peel Collection at Middleton Hall at £3.00 or £5.00 with worldwide postage and packing.

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