Harold Wilson will be forever remembered as the man of the people.
No matter how high he climbed in politics many British people saw him as ‘one of us.’
Former Huddersfield Examiner journalist Mike Shaw said: “One of Harold Wilson’s attributes, in my opinion, was that he was a man of the people.
“Outside of Parliament he was a modest individual with “no side” to him at all and he remained true to his Huddersfield roots.
“A personal example of this was one Saturday night when the Examiner discovered that he was making a non-publicised visit to the old Milnsbridge Socialist Club, now the Red and Green Club.
“I arrived to find him sitting with a few of his old mates from his scouting days in Milnsbridge and half a pint of beer in front of him.
“He was taken aback to learn that his ‘secret’ visit had been leaked but spared a few minutes to reminisce about his early life here and how much he enjoyed his time at Royds Hall Grammar School.
“A few years later we met again when he officially opened an extension at Golcar Socialist Club where he was equally at home and spoke at length about his love for the Town soccer club.
“Harold was the sort of man who had the ability to mix in any company, join in a conversation on any subject and thoroughly enjoy a laugh.
“His wife Mary was similar in many ways: modest, unobtrusive but very charming. I’m absolutely delighted that she has reached her century.”
Brenda Hellawell, 79, from Reinwood, recalls seeing Harold a couple of times.
She said: “In 1981 there was a do at Royds Hall to commemorate the school’s diamond jubilee as it opened in 1921.
“My sister Joyce had gone to park the car when this grey limousine came along the driveway, stopped outside the entrance and out stepped Harold Wilson.
“I was taken aback and said ‘I’m not one of the welcoming committee’ but he shook my hand.
“He was just one of the old boys – no going around saying ‘I’m Lord Wilson’ or anything like that. I really admired his attitude.”
Brenda was also at Milnsbridge Baptist Church for an anniversary event in the 1950s that Harold was invited to attend.
She said: “The church was absolutely packed – there must have been 2,000 people there and many had turned out just to see him.”
Gillian Swift from Highburton said: “In the mid 1980s I was studying for a degree at The Open University. I was travelling to London from Wakefield station and spotted Harold Wilson accompanied by Lord Kagan also waiting for the train.
“I introduced myself as an Open University student studying for a degree. He showed great interest in the courses I had chosen. I had with me an economics unit which he kindly signed. He told me how he had pioneered the Open University at the end of the Second World War. The aim of the Open University was, primarily, to offer the opportunity to those who, having not continued to higher education level for various reasons, could do so while studying from home.
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“It has been said that it was the most radical decision that Harold Wilson ever took. It was apparently also claimed by Tony Benn MP that it was the ONLY radical decision that he ever took.
“Party politics aside, I found him to be a most charismatic person. He spoke at length and with a passion on his belief in the idea of the Open University and we almost missed the train!
“I graduated six years later with an honours degree and a greater understanding of the workings of society.”
