Reverend F. L. Donaldson - Leicester Unemployed March

Photograph of the Reverend Frederic Lewis Donaldson (1860-1953), taken directly upon the arrival of the Leicester Unemployed March (500 men), of which he was one of the joint leaders, on June 18th, 1905. Rev. Donaldson was one of the founder members of the Church Socialist League, and between 1896 and 1906 was chairman of the Leicester Branch of the Christian Social Union. But it as an organiser and leader of the Leicester Unemployed March that he is especially remembered. Before the march, he wrote to Randall Davidson, the Archbishop of Canterbury, asking respectfully whether he would receive a deputation of unemployed marchers at Lambeth, but the request was refused. Rev Donaldson, vicar of St Mark's Church, became a Canon of Westminster Abbey. In relation to the march, The Times newspaper rather savagely reported: "A walk to London, especially if food and shelter on the way are provided free, will always be attractive to the restless, the shiftless, or the simpletons among the unemployed and unemployable. This form of menace must be resisted. They must be assured their walk proves nothing." !! (see: 11095696)

Canon Deputation Directly Donaldson Joint Marchers Pilgrimage Receive Reverend Unemployed

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