RESEARCH
Long, Chester (1932-)
Biography
- Born 1932
- Exeter City Councillor
- Labour Party
Vivian Spencer Roy Long, known as Chester, was born in Exeter. His father’s family were originally from Chard, Somerset, but the family’s work on the railway meant that they moved several times before settling in Devon. Chester’s parents were both strong Labour supporters, influenced by a period spent living in South Wales amongst mining communities. Chester’s first political memory was during the 1945 election, when he acted as a ‘runner’ for the Labour party (to hear more listen to the audioclip opposite).
Chester attended local schools in Exeter before leaving to join the railway. His career was interrupted by eighteen months spent in the Middle East undertaking national service in the early 1950s. On his return he became involved in Labour Party and union politics, first elected as a union regional representative and city councillor in 1963. A year later he met his wife, Anita, whilst she was canvassing for her father (another Labour councillor). A very political family, Chester’s two brothers became mayors, Anita was a member of the Young Socialists, and their two children are both Labour activists, one herself a councillor (Emma Morse).
Chester sat on the Council until he lost his seat in 1968. At this time he was elected as Regional Secretary in the union, and in 1972 returned to Exeter City Council as Deputy Leader of the Labour group. In 1983 he became leader of the Council, a position he held until 1999, for ten of those years running a ‘hung’ Council. He counts amongst his greatest achievements helping build Labour support in Exeter and making improvements to city parks, council houses and setting up a park and ride scheme.
Transcript of clip
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What’s your earliest political memory?
1945 working as a runner – that’s from the polling booth to the committee room of the Labour party which was in our house…that was at the old YMCA, who had a hut, where the car park is now in St David’s Station. In there after they vacated it (they had used it during the war for troops that were coming off trains) it fell to the city council, we used it as a polling booth. That catered for people in the lower St David’s area. So that’s the first part, very little happened after that that I can recall. We used to go chanting as children – that was the way of broadcasting who the candidate was. Groups of you would go round, invariably they’d give you a lollipop or something. That was it. The one I can remember, because we subsequently helped him again when I came out of the forces (but this was about 1954-55) a man called Jack Warne, councillor for St David’s, and he ran a taxi business in St David’s. We helped him, he was an independent.
Interview Summary
Date of recording: 30/05/14
Interviewer: Claire Marchetti
[00.00] Interviewer introduces Chester Long, City Councillor for Exeter, 1963-1999, and City Council leader 1983-1999. Description of immediate family.[2.20] Description of railway connections within the family.[3.32] Remarks on non religious nature of family. [3.40] Description of meeting current spouse, in 1964. [4.20] Description of children's careers in politics. [4.55] Description of earliest political memory. Story of being a runner at the local elections in 1945. Remarks on being non-political as a child, outside of 'chanting'. [6.50] Long description of getting involved with the local Labour party as an adult in 1957/8 via the Rail Trade Union. [9.55] Comments on losing his city council seat in 1966. Brief description of change in Alderman status. [11.33] Comments on the political influence of his family. Describes how he was the first of his brothers to be elected. [12.36] Lengthy description of how Welsh mining troubles influenced his parents, and consequentially, him. [15.47] Brief description of primary and secondary schooling in Devon. [16.46] Description of first job in the railways at 14. [22.11] Long description of experiences in the Middle East while doing National Service, 1951-1953. [30.25] Description of career in railways. [31.16] Description of being elected into the Rail Union as Secretary in 1968 and 1963 as a Regional Representative. [35.28] Description of career as councillor, from being elected to Exeter city council in 1963 and losing his seat in 1968, and becoming an agent for candidates in 'no win' wards and being the President of the local Labour party. Got re-elected in 1971. Tells story of Ivy Johnson being elected at the same time. [40.19] Description of being elected Deputy leader of the council for ten years. Still part of the Rail Union. [41.32] Description of being elected leader of the council in 1982. [42.10] Description of Clifton Labour Club and Whipton Labour Club being developed. Chairman of Whipton Labour Club for 27 years. [44.22] Story of building Labour support within Exeter, and being leader of a hung council. [47.34] Description an ordinary day as a councillor, and as leader. Had to juggle being on the Rail Union still. [51.50] Description of biggest challenges within political career. Mainly being in opposition in the 1970's, and the lack of having a Labour agent from 1978. [55.27] Story of gaining Labour support in the late 1970's through 'target voting'. [58.20] Lengthy description of the social aspect of the Labour clubs, and how they raised money for the use of the local party.[01:02.50] Story of Dorothy Parker standing for city council. [01:11.27] Comments on the interaction between people and their city councillors at the Labour clubs. [01:13.37] Description of his achievements as Leader of the city council, namely upgrading the city's play areas and council houses. Story of relocating the livestock centre and creating the city's park and ride. [01:21.47] Description of why he never stood as a Parliamentary candidate. [01:22.23] Discusses the changes in political participation over the course of his career, and the possible reasons behind the current perceived apathy towards people. [01:24.31] Comments on the state of politics in Devon and the challenges Devon faces, including the importance of local issues, and how Devon politicians interact with Westminster. [01:32.16] Discussion of the importance of Plymouth and Torbay receiving unitary status. [01:34.37] Discussion of lack of political identity in Devon, and any influences on constituency politics. [01:36.43] Discussion of the role of women in Labour politics. [01.39.41] Discussion of his most memorable elections, 1966, namely Gwyneth Dunwoody's election campaigns in 1966 and 1970, and Ben Bradshaw's election in 1997. Story of counting votes in the 1997 election. [01:43.29] Discussion of his biggest achievement in his political career as his maintaining Labour control throughout his time on the council. [01.44.55] Discussion of his enjoyment of taking part in politics. [01:52.07] End of interview.
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Click below to listen to Chester’s early involvement with political campaigning…