Ricky Tomlinson in Shrewsbury ‘Flying Pickets’ rally

Monday 5th July 2010, 6:30PM BST.

Ricky Tomlinson addresses the rally at Lord Hill's column. Picture by Derek Smalls

TV actor Ricky Tomlinson took part in a rally in Shrewsbury to try and clear his name over a criminal offence connected to the notorious 1970s building workers dispute.

A march took place from Abbey Foregate to the Crown Court, where the Royle Family star was one of 24 workers convicted in 1973 during the “flying pickets” trial. He was due to march but was held up in traffic.

He spoke instead at the rally afterwards.

Mr Tomlinson, a plasterer at the time, was jailed for two years for an offence under the 1875 Conspiracy Act, said Mike Abbott, national secretary for the Justice for the Shrewsbury Pickets campaign.

Mr Abbott added: “The workers were on strike over their demand for £1 an hour and better safety and working conditions in the construction industry.”

The strike was all over the country but the 24 were arrested in Flintshire and Mold in North Wales and tried in Shrewsbury Crown Court to “set an example” to the Trade Union movement.

It was the second year that the march involving about 500 people had taken place.

Evidence

Mr Tomlinson was one of about five of the 24 arrested to attend.

He spoke to a crowd of supporters at the rally and called on the police to provide evidence that his trial had been fair.

Mr Tomlinson said: “There are people here who know more about this campaign than me who were involved before I got sent to prison.

“They do a wonderful job. We want this cleared up for the people of Shrewsbury.

“I’m challenging the Chief Constable to come to a public meeting where people can hear for themselves that there was no case to answer at our trial. I want him to debate to me that this trial wasn’t legal.”

General secretary of the RMT Union Bob Crow, who walked in the march and addressed the crowd, said: “We’ve come down today to get some justice for the people who were the victims in the dispute.

“Employers have blacklisted trade unionists whose only crime was to defend people’s conditions and try to improve pay.”

Janice Godrich, Public and Commercial Services Union president, said: “It’s the first time I’ve been here.

“I’ve been aware of the campaign for a number of years.

“I’m really pleased to lend our support to the campaign.”

By Emma Kasprazak

View more: Shrewsbury news.

1
Jennie Shepherd

July 6, 2010 at 10:17

Mr Tomlinson was tried and a jury or his peers found him guilty. There is no question that this man was guilty, my husband was on the jury at the time and was a staunch union man and he said that he was guilty.

It didn’t take them long to get to this verdict

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2
jonboy

July 6, 2010 at 15:03

“We want this cleared up for the people of Shrewsbury.”

What’s this got to do with the people of Shrewsbury Ricky? Just because you were locked up here doesn’t mean it constantly plays on our minds. Frankly I saw the documentary you made about it for the BBC a couple of years ago and I think you got what you deserved. Stop carping on about it to whoever will listen, you knew the risks back then, take it like a man.

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3
AH

July 8, 2010 at 19:09

An interesting insight from Jennie, the jury were content that an offence had been committed and that Mr Tomlinson committed that offence, end of story. I’m sure the last phrase of Jonboy may well bring back memories of his time in The Dana, come to think of it, I wonder if that’s where he got his catchphrase from?

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4
barbara

July 9, 2010 at 00:57

“We’ve come down today to get some justice for the people who were the victims in the dispute”….does that mean the workers who were intimidated and gave evidence to the court or those that only seek a different outcome because it doesn’t sit easy with their celebrity?

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5
Pete Farrell

July 10, 2010 at 14:43

Whats the point of leaving a message you don’t seem to want to print an answer I’ve left 2 messages which arn’t here . Just right wing lies about what is imagined happened . What about a public debate with the chief of Police. Better still release papers which were told can’t be released for national security reasons ??????? Think about it ?????

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