10/10/2026
Margaret Bondfield and the 1926 General Strike
Chapter 7
10 May 1926
On the last day of her tour, Margaret was back in Newton Abbot for a meeting at the Palace Cinema at 10.30 am. Mr Chinn, the chairman, reported that all was well. Amusements and games were taking place as planned.
Margaret then called in at Taunton, where she addressed a meeting of 100 men. Once again, all was ‘going well’.
She then made her way to Chard, her hometown. There was much sympathy for the miners in Chard, and no trains were running along the branch line.
While in Chard, Margaret made time to visit her brother and have tea with him.
Finally, Margaret visited Yeovil, where she found everything well organised and the meeting packed out.
Margaret made it back to London at 2 am on 11 May 1926.
And so, this evening, you’ll spot Margaret Bondfield returning to Chard- exactly 100 years and 5 months later - in the carnival procession!
She’ll be enjoying a cup of tea on the move, accompanied by a few miners and workers of the era, and by the haunting melody of ‘When the Coal Comes from the Rhondda’, sung by the artist Montaigne. This song was considered the anthem of the 1926 General Strike.
The cart and music will part ways with Margaret at the end of Crowshute Link. Margaret will continue the carnival route down the High Street, while the cart safely returns to it’s home at Chard Museum.
Thank you to the Chard Men’s Shed for refurbishing the surveyor’s cart, which we’ll be using this evening.
And a huge thank you to the volunteers at Chard Museum, who have provided crucial help in pulling everything together and making this happen.
Please share this post far and wide, and don’t forget to give Margaret a wave!
