Strike School gathering

Norfolk’s Burston Strike School Rally is back in September, with a packed line up of speakers and music commemorating the longest strike in history.

The Rally, this year held on 6 September, remembers the role of trade unions in building a “Strike School” for the children of rural workers in Norfolk following the persecution of the village school teachers, Tom and Kitty Higdon.

The Higdons were sacked by the establishment for their trade union and socialist views, resulting in pupils at the Burston village Council School walking out in protest. 

The strike and boycott lasted for 25 years, leading to their action being labelled the “‘the longest strike in history”.

The Strike School originally opened in 1917 thanks to trade union and labour movement donations from across the country that were sent in solidarity with teachers Tom and Kitty Higdon.

The free annual event Burston Strike School Rally first started in 1984, and organisers are promising another packed programme of speakers and music this year, with the Burston Strike School Trustees looking forward to seeing friends and colleagues from the wider labour movement at the annual gathering.

Unite’s Mark Walker, Trustee and Event Coordinator, said “this year sees another great line-up of trade union and political speakers, musical entertainment, as well as campaign and community stalls to commemorate the longest strike in history and recognise the sacrifice Tom and Anne Higdon gave in their fight for improved working conditions and education of local agricultural workers”. 

Mark said that they have a packed day of entertainment and speakers lined up, including action-packed power trio, The Informers, and East Anglia favorites, Catch-22. They will also be the stirring socialist sounds of Red Flags along with marching music from the RMT and NASWT Brass Bands.

Speakers this year include Unite National Officer for Food, Drink and Agriculture, Paul Travers, RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsy, Unite Village Hotels national convenor Daniel Friel, Jess Bernard Palestine Solidarity Campaign TU Organiser and Clive Lewis MP.

There will also be a chance to check out campaign stalls and the Strike School itself as well as take part in the traditional march around the village.

Paul said, “It is a pleasure and honour to be asked to speak at the Burston School Strike Rally.  This is yet another celebration of those in our rural communities standing up for what is right.”

“The Burston Strike School Rally is a fantastic event, organised by a dedicated team of volunteers who aim to keep the story of Tom and Kitty Higdon alive for future generations, and Unite’s FDA sector will continue to get behind such events and send a message of solidarity to all involved.”

For more information and to make a stall holder booking – email [email protected]

Here is a link to the Unite Live report from last year.

The 2026 Burston Strike School Rally takes place on Sunday 6th September at Church Green, Burston.

By Keith Hatch

Photo by Peter Everard Smith