Herbert Coldham

1923 – Great Strike

This extract was taken from Poor labouring men : rural radicalism in Norfolk, 1872-1923 by Alun Howkins.

Although the text says that the “elderly man with the cap” is Herbert Coldham, he would in fact have been in his forties at this time. The man with the cap does not appear particularly elderly.

In 1920, Herbert Coldham was appointed as a trustee of the Deopham Green Methodist Chapel, a position which he retained until his death.

1934 Union Rally in Hingham

EDP July 10th, 1934

LANDWORKERS’ RALLY AT HINGHAM
BIG GATHERINGS ON THE FAIRLAND
The annual demonstration organised by the Norfolk County Committee of the National Union of Agricultural Workers was held at Hingham on Sunday. There were two large meetings on the Fairland, especially in the evening, when many families from the surrounding district were among the audience. The spreading trees on the Fairland afforded a welcome shade. The proceedings started with a procession of supporters from the Labour Clubroom, led by the Hingham Town Silver Band, to the meeting place. Owing to the heat the bandsmen, who were conducted by Bandmaster W. G. Lambert, stood not on ceremony and discarded their braided tunics. Mr. Herbert Coldham presided and congratulated the town on possessing such a fine lot of bandsmen. Mr. Jack Mills (ex-M.P. for Dartford) having referred to the International Labour Conference at Geneva, said there was a time when the need of the worker was put first, but now everything affecting the wage-earner was calculated by the employer on the basis of cost. Employment could be helped if the wage-earners could only get enough money to buy essential commodities for their homes. There was not one worker in 25 that could half satisfy his needs to-day, and when Monday morning came all were wishing for next pay-day to come. Mr. J. Brooksbank (Norwich) referred to the work of Norwich City Council, on which there was a Labour majority. He said that all the workmen employed by the Council received higher wages than when they worked for city firms and, in addition, the employees had full pay during the first six weeks of sickness and holidays with pay each year. These facts emphatically proved that the workers did benefit under Socialism. After commenting on events in Germany he appealed to the workers of England to rally to their Trade Unions and defeat the Fascists (Cheers.)
In the evening another meeting was held, following a procession led from Mill Corner by the band. In addition to the afternoon speakers Mr. George Hewitt gave an address in which he compared the conditions of today with those of 1906, when he, with the late Sir George Edwards. helped to start the organisation. He urged the young men to come into the ranks to fill the gaps caused by death of old stalwarts.
At the intervals the bandsmen played well known hymn tunes.

EDP Article 1951

EDP Feb 7th 1951:-

Veterans of the Land: Herbert Coldham
In the distant past almost every farm worker was also a soldier, fighting under the banner of his feudal lord when required. The younger generation of countrymen today are also trained for war as well as peace, but there are few veteran farm workers who can claim to have done as much military service as Mr. Herbert Coldham, of Deopham He fought in the Boer War and the first World War and served in the Home Guard more recently.
Mr. Coldham also has a long record of public service. At the age of 25 he was elected to Deopham Parish Council and remained a member ever since. For the past 20 years he has been chairman. He is senior member of Forehoe and Henstead R.D.C.. to which he was first elected in 1910 ; and he is vice-chairman of its Com mittee. From 1930 until 1948 he was a J.P. on the Wymondham Bench. An early member of the N.U.AW., he is now chairman of the Deopham branch and of the Wymondham district committee. In 1941 Mr. Coldham. who has over 50 years’ work on the land to his credit, ions chosen as representative agricultural worker to broadcast to America. He is now 72.

EDP Article 1959

EDP May 15th 1959:-

The “Mayor of Deopham” was 80 yesterday. Holder of this unofficial title is Mr. Herbert Coldham, veteran soldier, farm worker and local representative. As a soldier Mr. Coldham fought in the Boer War with the Norfolk Regiment. He rejoined the colours at the outbreak of the first World War and fought with his regiment in France and Turkey. He was wounded in the knee at Gallipoli. He joined the Home Guard in the Second World War in the first week of its existence.
“Things were looking a bit bad at that time,” he recalls, “and I felt that if the Germans were coming I would rather have a rifle.”
Later he joined the Civil Defence and only retired from active service a few months ago.
As a farm worker Mr. Coldham began at the age of 11 for 2s. 6d. a week. He considered himself lucky — other lads were earning only 2s. a week. He was one of the earliest members of the National Union of Agricultural Workers, and in 1946 he received the Union’s highest award — the gold badge — for 50 years service. For 37 years he has been chairman of the Wymondham and District branch of the Union.
As a councillor Mr. Coldham has served Deopham Parish Council for 55 years and Forehoe and Henstead R.D.C. for 49 years. He was chairman of the parish council for over 20 years and retired from the chair only a year ago because he felt that his deafness was becoming a handicap. From 1930 to 1948 he was a J.P. on the Wymondham Bench and he is still a member of the Deopham School Managers. Since his retirement from work five years ago, Mr. Coldham has spent most of his spare time reading. His tastes range from Dickens to Shaw and from African tales to thrillers. He still manages without glasses.
Mr. Coldham lives with his niece and her husband. Mr. and Wilfred Barham, who moved into the country after Nazi bombers had destroyed their home in Norwich.
He has never married and with a twinkle of Norfolk country humour in his eyes gives the following reason :
“A pal and I were sent home from Gallipoli. I got a discharge and he was passed fit for home service. He was very pleased about this and got married almost immediately. A few weeks later I had a little parcel of wedding cake from him and three months later I had a letter from him in France. He had volunteered for overseas service and I thought to myself — If married life is worse than the trenches, I better off single …”

Inquest and Obituary 1963

EDP August 17th 1963:-

Memorial

The parish council decided to memorialise Herbert Coldham by naming the area opposite the recreation ground “Coldham Green”.

Photo: Liz Sankey, Feb 2024

Date	Change
2/2/24	Coldham Green
14/12/23	Deopham Green Methodist Chapel
30/11/22	Published