The southerners who just could not grasp the Jarrow situation in 1936
‘I had heard about Jarrow but quite frankly I was inclined to put the stories down as exaggerations’
The people of the south simply could not comprehend the suffering of the people of Jarrow despite having the situation explained to them.
The people of St Albans spoke to the Shields Gazette the night before the crusaders set off on the final leg of their journey to London.
Our reporter chatted with an old woman in 1936, and found out that she used to live in Jarrow.
She said 90 years ago: “I came down here with my son when he got work. I have visited the old town several times in the last few years and I have tried to tell my friends down here, how terrible things are in Jarrow, but it's no use. They can’t understand.”
Our reporter added: “She refused to tell her name and turned away, still murmuring, "They can't understand.”
A similar message was given when our journalist chatted to the porter of the Institution where the crusaders were staying overnight.
“I had heard about Jarrow," the porter said, “but quite frankly I was inclined to put the stories down as exaggerations. Now I know that what I thought could not possibly be true does in fact exist. If you can only convince everyone else of those terrible conditions, as you have convinced me, I do not think anyone can refuse you the work you ask.”
The men then settled down to one of their final meals before heading to London and also enjoyed hot baths or showers, before heading out to a free cinema show.