Jim Whiston reports on the recent launch in Govan of What History is For: Essays in honour of Professor John Foster (Manifesto Press, 2024).
On Saturday 16th November, a crowd gathered in the grand McLeod Hall at the Pearce Institute, Govan, to mark the publication of Manifesto Press’ What History is For: Essays in honour of Professor John Foster. Many will know John for his work with the Morning Star and the Communist Party. Other readers will be more likely to know Foster as the author of Class Struggle and the Industrial Revolution (1974), a monograph on the history of the development of “class consciousness” in a collection of industrialising towns in the nineteenth century. The book boasts a foreword from the titanic Eric Hobsbawm and was widely reviewed by the socialist literati of the time. His most recent publication, Languages of Class Struggle: Communication and Mass Mobilisation in Britain and Ireland, 1842-1972 (2024), was reviewed in SLR Issue 142 by Chik Collins.
Collins, the Director of the Glasgow Centre for Population Health and Foster’s former student, introduced the event with a reflection on his first encounter with John as a student at the Paisley College of Technology. He spoke of John’s deep commitment to education and his endearing modesty. He recalled that his fellow students had asked is that “our John Foster?” when spotting John’s groundbreaking Class Struggle and the Industrial Revolution in a reading list. Chik then outlined John’s contribution through six decades of publications, teaching, and political and community activism. He highlighted John’s reflections on the role of language in the development of class consciousness in Languages of Class Struggle.
Susan Galloway spoke about her essay in the collection in which she and Marjorie Mayo had used John’s work through Govan Community Council to illustrate how Communists work in their communities. Esme Clark, the Community Council’s Secretary spoke of how she had formed an enduring partnership with John over the many years to the benefit of the community of Govan, despite coming from a very different political tradition.
Mike Dailly of Govan Law Centre continued this theme in his contribution that highlighted both successes and continuing challenges facing Govan as it undergoes a physical transformation which is not necessarily reflected in the wellbeing of its people.
John Foster replied in his trademark style, combining authority with a deep empathy. Picking up on a point by Esme Clark, he reminded his listeners that “whilst the Community Council was not party political, everything it has done and continues to do is deeply political”. He remarked how Govan had not really existed two hundred years ago, and how it had undergone profound changes as workers flooded in from Scotland’s highlands and lowlands, and from Ireland. More recently the descendants of these migrants have been joined by migrants from across the world. Despite deep culture differences, common interests have consistently emerged and, through struggle, people have been able to effect real change.
The event concluded with two standing ovations to John. Many copies of book were sold on the night and a lengthy queue formed of friends and neighbours for John to autograph it.
The event was sponsored by Govan Law Centre, and the book is published by Manifesto Press.
Jim Whiston recently retired as the director of the housing association, Ayrshire Housing. He is a member of the Communist Party’s Housing and Progressive Federalism Commissions.