Dan

@d-j-frost

Historian of the near-present ✍️ Co-editor, In Solidarity, Under Suspicion: The British Far Left from 1956 (@manchesterup.bsky.social, 2025) Co-convenor, IHR Contemporary British History seminar (@cont-brit-hist.bsky.social) #cpfc 🔵🔴

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Dan@d-j-frost· 20d

There's also a... vibe to some of his interventions. Explaining at length the connection between sugar and margarine rations... Complaining about American control of the greaseproof paper supply... Holding up some "vintage prunes" at a meeting... We'd disagree on nationalisation but... Yeah...

Article from the Croydon Times (4 Feb 1950) on margarine rations.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004277/19500204/201/0001

Article from the Croydon Times (3 Feb 1951) on grocers' complaints about the scarcity and cost of greaseproof paper.

"Mr. F. E. Frost said he understood America was using two-thirds of the world's supply of greaseproof paper."

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004277/19510203/180/0009

Article from the Croydon Advertiser (30 May 1952): "Mr. F.E. Frost held up some prunes at Monday's meeting of Croydon Grocers' Association and used the adjectives 'fermented' and 'beery' to describe them."

"It was decided that Mr. Frost should take his prunes and exhibit them at a meeting of the London District Council of the grocers' federation which was to be held this week."

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000945/19520530/181/0007

Dan@d-j-frost· 20d

After the Second World War, he also took on positions of leadership in the local Grocers' Association – commenting on political issues like rationing and nationalisation. Funny to see the worry about shops being "all one colour". My grandad wasn't allowed to mention Tesco or Sainsbury's as a child!

Article from the Croydon Times (28 Jan 1950), describing a speech by F.E. Frost as president of the Croydon and District Grocers' and Allied Trades' Association.

"I presume we should have government jam and government marmalade. Of course, there will be some good jobs at the top; there always are when concerns are nationalised, but they won't be for us: they are already filled, and they will be filled by gentlemen who know nothing about the trade!"

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004277/19500128/099/0005

Article from Croydon Times (28 Jan 1950) on a Croydon Grocers' Association meeting about an anti-sugar nationalisation campaign.

"The president, Mr. F.E. Frost, put an end to the discussion by suggesting that the members should do as they thought best."

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004277/19500128/054/0003

Letter to the Croydon Advertiser (11 May 1951), challenging claims that adulterated goods were being sold: "Statements such as were made at this meeting by people who know nothing about the subject do untold harm and make the grocer's job very difficult."

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000945/19510511/004/0004

Article from the Croydon Advertiser (2 Feb 1951) on census of distribution proposals.

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000945/19510202/005/0005

Dan@d-j-frost· 20d

And the competitions! He was All-England Champion in 1931. Winning 50+ awards for bacon slicing and rolling, tea blending, and "naming and placing Empire dried and evaporated fruits"? Surprising example of everyday imperialism... He also married Gladys Gaw in 1931, and she competed at cake-making!

Excerpt from an article in the Croydon Times (25 November 1931), describing F.E. Frost as the winner of the "All-England Championship Cup" at the International Grocers' Exhibition.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004169/19311125/133/0007

Article from the Croydon Times (17 Dec 1932) listing "Mrs F.E. Frost" as "highly commended" at a cake-baking competition at the Horniman Hall.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004169/19321217/438/0018

Article from the Croydon Times (5 Oct 1935) on F.E. Frost winning the "Harris Challenge Shield" for bacon-slicing. It mentions that this was his 52nd award, and lists some of the others: the 'Empire' Challenge Cup for tea blending presented by the Empire Marketing Board in 1932; the 'All-Britain' Championship Cup in 1931 for the competitor who obtained the highest number of marks in all competitions; the Birmingham 50 guinea cup for tea blending in 1929.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004277/19351005/065/0003

Article from the Croydon Times (1 Oct 1938), describing F.E. Frost winning second-prize in "bacon cutting and slicing", second-prize in "bacon and rolling", and first for "naming and placing Empire dried and evaporated fruits".

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004277/19381001/341/0015

Dan@d-j-frost· 20d

Found it interesting how much social life was attached to being a grocer: In these from the mid-1920s, he's listed as the honorary secretary of the South London branch of the "Grocers' Institute Students' Companionship". The postnominals stand for "Member of the Institute of Certificated Grocers".

Croydon Times (20 Sep 1924) article on a grocery class social, where F.E. Frost is mentioned as the hon. sec. of the South London branch of the Grocers' Institute Students' Companionship.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004169/19240920/038/0002

Letter to the editor of the Croydon Times (12 Sep 1925), advertising a public meeting.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004169/19250912/054/0003

Dan@d-j-frost· 20d

My grandad has worked on a family history for a long time, so I thought I'd search the British Newspaper Archive – starting with his father, Frank Ernest Frost, a grocer in West Croydon. This article is from 1920, when he was 17. Despite selling the shop in the 1970s, their sign is still there:

Google Street View image from March 2025, showing a shop with a sign that reads "F.E. Frost" and "Family Grocer".

Article from the Mitcham Advertiser (4 June 1920) mentioning that F.E. Frost has passed his first year Institute of Certificated Grocers examination.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0005854/19200604/121/0005

Dan@d-j-frost· 28d

Spending the week looking after this convivial cutie (and her slightly more melancholic sister)

A cat sleeping on a bag of books, including Paul Gilroy's After Empire

Dan@d-j-frost· Jul 9

I am impossibly hyped for this signing, this is so perfect #cpfc

Dan@d-j-frost· Jul 9

Croydon en Comú, let's go

Screen grab from Wikipedia: "His father, Juan Carlos Mingueza, is the current mayor of Santa Perpètua de Mogoda since 2026, representing Santa Perpètua en Comú."

Dan@d-j-frost· Jun 18

Have to say that even *I* think this is a bit of a tenuous excuse to talk about Croydon www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Some very good things have come from Croydon, the often overlooked town in south London. The film director David Lean was born there, as was Roy Hodgson, the actor Peggy Ashcroft and the sexologist Havelock Ellis. Amy Winehouse studied in Croydon. The Bill and Peep Show were filmed there, as was the title sequence of the 1980s sitcom Terry and June. For a long time it was a centre of brewing and leather production. It was on a suburban driveway there that Pickles found the Jules Rimet trophy after it had been stolen in 1966. And on Wednesday Croydon proved the crucible of Colombia’s victory over Uzbekistan.

Dan@d-j-frost· Jun 15

So grateful to have been able to celebrate my engagement to @marypedicini.bsky.social with friends and family in sunny South London ☀️💍 I can't wait for our next steps together 💕

Mary and myself standing in front of friends/family in a pub upstairs room; I am giving a (not) speech.

Two cakes with pieces cut out; the one on the left (pistachio and lime cake) reads "Mary & Dan".

Mary and myself standing in front of people; Mary is (not) giving a speech.

Two pages on which guests stuck illustrations of themselves as various fantastical beings.

Dan@d-j-frost· May 19

Lovely to read this generous and thoughtful review of *In Solidarity, Under Suspicion*, by Clive Hedges for The Left Lane! theleftlane.media/learning-les... @evansmithhist.bsky.social @manchesterup.bsky.social

As Frost notes in the final chapter of this fascinating and informative text, Corbynism briefly promised such a broad-church-leftism under the auspices of his leadership of the Labour Party, a promise that hit the wall of not just the establishment but, probably more crucially, the right-wing Labour establishment, which has been busy trying to bury it ever since. There are lessons, however, in this collection regarding what should be the centrality of the pursuit of democracy and solidarity for the left in trying to do this.

Dan@d-j-frost· May 5

A march to Duppas Hill on May 9th was also reported by the Croydon Times, itself limited to four-page issues through most of the strike. It was probably the largest protest in Croydon's history; the Council of Action called it a "monster demonstration". I love the detail about the toy car!

"LABOUR DEMONSTRATION.

Big Procession in Croydon.

Members of the various unions affiliated to the Croydon Labour Party, held a demonstration at Duppas Hill on Sunday night. A procession was first formed at Ruskin House, and from there, headed by a brass band, about three thousand strikers marched via the High-street to Duppas Hill, where speeches were delivered.

The procession was quite orderly. Banners were flown in profusion and women and young children joined the procession in their hundreds. One boy followed in his toy motor car, whilst there were perambulators by the score.

Traffic in the main streets was held up whilst the procession passed, and the volunteer drivers and conductors on the East Surrey 'buses came in for a considerable amount of chaffing."

Dan@d-j-frost· May 5

The event was at Ruskin House. The previous building in West Croydon was a major centre in the General Strike. The British Worker reported on an appearance by the Communist conductor Rutland Boughton, best-known for his role in the first Glastonbury Festivals. files.libcom.org/files/Britis...

"MUSIC AND ACROBATICS

Mr. Rutland Boughton's Help At Croydon

From reports which come from all quarters that from Croydon is as cheery as any. Ruskin House, the local Labour Party's headquarters, is the scene of great activity. Trade unions are regularly reporting there, and everybody is in splendid fettle.

An amusements committee is hard at work. Already concerts have been held, and the quality of the talent has been remarkably high. A cricket team is being formed, and among other items being given on the lawn to-day are acrobatic performances.

Mr. Rutland Boughton, the famous Labour musical conductor, came in from Tatfield especially to offer his help and advice, so that the Croydon folk can look forward to a good time on the musical and dramatic side.

Owing to the fact that only a few copies of the BRITISH WORKER reached Ruskin House, relays of readers mounted a form this morning and read the whole paper through to a cheering and enthusiastic crowd."

Dan@d-j-frost· May 5

On Saturday, I was honoured to speak at an event commemorating the centenary of the General Strike – organised by the Unite LE Region's Graphical, Paper, Media and IT Sector RISC ✊ I drew heavily on these reports from Councils of Action in South London: wdc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...

Section of report from Bermondsey Council of Action

Section of report from Bermondsey Council of Action, including the following:

"Position on May 12.-- No signs of weakening whatever. The workers were more solid on the 12th than at the first."

Section of report from Croydon Council of Action, including the following:

"Absolute solidarity. Closest co-operation between political and industrial wings of the Party. [...] No friction between right and left wings. Running of Strike Bulletin, printed by voluntary T.U. labour, under direction of local Printing Trades Strike Committee. Running of monster demonstration -- the largest Croydon has ever seen."

Section of report from Croydon Council of Action.

Dan@d-j-frost· Apr 29

Always a thrill when another Gillingham featured article comes around on Wikipedia – and I'm wondering whether this phenomenon is itself notable enough for a Wikipedia article

Dan@d-j-frost· Apr 8

I'm trying to identify somebody that appears in Robert Vas' *Nine Days in '26* (1974) – possibly a Labour Party economic adviser in the 1920s. He describes announcing the end of the General Strike at Ruskin House in Croydon. Handwritten note on the script suggests 'C. Robinson'? #skystorians

MAN (handwritten: possibly C. Robinson?)

When it was announced and I was responsible with the others for announcing it on the steps of Ruskin House, Croydon, for a long time they simply would not believe that it had happened I didn't even believe it myself that it had happened. People even wept (CHEERS)

Dan@d-j-frost· Apr 6

Great to have my (sun-bathed) copy of the new @redpeppermag.bsky.social – the first since the switch to annual editions! – including my article on Croydon in the 1926 General Strike 🛠✊️ Buy or subscribe here: www.redpepper.org.uk/order-the-20...

A copy of red pepper magazine on a wooden table. The front page has the headline "Striking Back" and a collage about the 1926 General Strike.

An open copy of red pepper with a coffee in the background. The page includes an infobox on key figures from the General Strike, and an article on Croydon in the General Strike with a picture of a British Worker front page to illustrate.

Dan@d-j-frost· Mar 26

Enjoyed hearing from @leilarsellers.bsky.social yesterday evening – speaking to the IHR Contemporary British History seminar (@cont-brit-hist.bsky.social) about born-digital sources, online trans communities, and the Beaumont Society! A really great talk and an excellent discussion afterwards

Dan@d-j-frost· Mar 21

Just finished Week 4 of the Couch to 5k 🏃‍♂️ I'm wearing my #CPFC ZDS shirt so I got a "go on Palace!" from someone on a bike 🔴🔵

Picture of Victoria Park with the Burdett Coutts fountain in the background

Dan@d-j-frost· Mar 3

Looking at digitised far-left papers for a possible thing on the left and digital technology, and found this in *The Leninist* (1992): 'Although PC prices have been tumbling and we drove a very hard bargain, we are still left with a 4-figure dent in our finances.' www.marxists.org/history/inte...

Dan@d-j-frost· Feb 27

It is ~interesting to come across this pic of Fred Harris, a Conservative MP for Croydon North West, with the 1967 'Miss South Africa', posted by one of those strange nostalgic Facebook pages. www.facebook.com/OldBritain/p...

A young white woman (Disa Duivestein) and an older white man (Fred Harris) stand outside the Houses of Parliament; the man points at something out of shot.

Old Britain (28 April 2025): "A moment of elegance at the Houses of Parliament, 1967!
On November 14, 1967, Mr. Fred Harris, Conservative MP for Croydon North West, shows Miss South Africa, Disa Duivestein, a famous London landmark during a special tour of Parliament for the Miss World contestants. A timeless snapshot of diplomacy, beauty, and London’s historic charm!

#MissWorld #London1967 #HistoryInPictures #TimelessElegance"

Dan@d-j-frost· Jan 30

Arthur Carr – a "pretty Leftish" former secretary to Nye Bevan, former secretary of the Council for the Defence of Seretse Khama, and a founder of the Movement for Colonial Freedom – had stood in Croydon South in 1955 but in 1964 endorsed the Conservatives because Labour had lost their "idealism":

Excerpt from the Acton Gazette: "I HAVE left the Labour Party because no matter how sincere some individual members may still be, the Party itself has become one of expediency.

In 1945 the Labour Party was a Party of ideals. It believed in Socialism both at home and abroad. A new Britain was going to be created where we would live and for each other and an end was to be put to selfishness and greed.

All this of course is idealism. It can scorned at now but it this very idealism which won Labour an overwhelming majority in 1945. They began to compromise in 1948 and talk in terms of consolidating the progress made. As their idealism died their vote went down so they were returned in 1950 with an unworkably small majority. The Party became divided and they threw the towel away in by resigning and meeting defeat."

"Between then and this election thousands have left the Labour Party and in the main probably dropped out of politics altogether. I believe in a democracy. I believe it is the duty of politically conscious people to play their part and tried hard to continue in the Labour Party. I resigned my candidature in 1958 and have played no active part since. I had no pre-conceived idea of joining the Conservative Party.

I am voting working for the Conservative Party at this election because in its bid for power the Labour Party now faces both ways. It retains Clause IV not to lose more members, but drops it publicly as not to lose votes."

Dan@d-j-frost· Jan 30

In 1964, a letter to the Croydon Advertiser commented on news that a former Labour candidate had defected to the Conservatives. "There must be something in the air of Croydon South that encourages political somersaults", they said. Time for an incomplete list of Labour somersaults in Croydon...

Dan@d-j-frost· Jan 15

Some cute details in this report of the 1926 General Strike in Croydon: "A baby in arms carried a flag, and a boy rode in a toy all-red motor car." I'm guessing something like this?: www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/fren... #skystorians

Dan@d-j-frost· Jan 9

John Lewis – as in 'Reply to John Lewis', *that* John Lewis – was the son of a Mayor of Croydon..?

Dan@d-j-frost· Dec 19

Look what arrived today! Ask your library to order a copy: manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526179593/ @evansmithhist.bsky.social @manchesterup.bsky.social

A hand holding a copy of In Solidarity, Under Suspicion in front of a Christmas tree

Dan@d-j-frost· Nov 30

It is interesting that @thisisyourparty.bsky.social has been relatively closely following the "1-9-90" rule that @paologerbaudo.bsky.social has discussed as a characteristic of "digital parties": - 800,000 expressed support - 50,000 joined as members - 8-10,000 participating in online voting

Dan@d-j-frost· Nov 21

A busy (and jetlagged) return to London, but I'm still thinking about @thenacbs.bsky.social in Montreal last weekend! Great to be joined by @alfiesteer.bsky.social and @racheljcollett.bsky.social for our panel on activism in the 1990s, and very grateful to Jess White for stepping in as chair ☃️

Four panellists sit behind a table, with a presentation screen on the left. From left to right: Alfie Steer, Rachel Collett, Daniel Frost, Jess White.

Four people stand in the snow on Mont Royal. From left to right: Daniel Frost, Rachel Collett, Jess White, Alfie Steer.

A presentation slide. On the left, a screengrab from the Stop the War Coalition instagram page. On the right, text reading: Left-wing activism and digital technologies in the 1990s and 2000s. Below: Daniel Frost (CEA CAPA Education Abroad London) followed by my email address (DFrost@ceacapa.com) and Bluesky details.

Dan@d-j-frost· Nov 10

Met so many great historians at this weekend's Southern Conference on British Studies, in beautiful St. Pete Beach, Florida! Really enjoyed speaking about the 'first' New Left in Croydon on Friday's panel on 'Redefining Politics in Twentieth Century Britain'. Next stop: Montreal!

A panel of four people. From left to right: Alexandra Lindgren-Gibson (chair), Daniel Frost, William Robert Billups, Stephen M. Duffy.

The first slide of my presentation. On the left, text reading: 'The "first" New Left in a "new town", 1958-1964'; 'Daniel Frost (CEA CAPA Education Abroad London)'; my email address and Bluesky details.

On the right, a black-and-white photograph of a crowd in Trafalgar Square. One banner stands out, reading 'Croydon C.N.D.'.

A picture of me delivering my paper, sat on the left of the image. On the right, a presentation slide depicts historic and contemporary maps of central Croydon, with images depicting the construction of Croydon underpass, and a newspaper article about the New Left's criticisms of office development.

Dan@d-j-frost· Oct 15

Then on 14 November, I'm chairing and speaking on a panel at @thenacbs.bsky.social in Montreal – @alfiesteer.bsky.social, @racheljcollett.bsky.social, @fmarshallpayne.bsky.social and I will be discussing activism in Britain since the 1990s www.nacbs.org/conference