Saturday 5 April 2014

Joseph King on film, 1920 election

Until recently my visual impression of Joseph King came from a handful of photographs.  Then I came across British Pathe's short film with Joseph King standing for election at Ilford in 1920, when King would have been 60 years old.  I believe this Pathe archive has recently gone online.
Still from Election at Ilford,
British Pathe Archive
Whilst King is only on the film for a few seconds you can gather a few more indications of him.  Here is what I see: well-positioned in the centre of the photo opportunity; maintaining a good composure; talking jovially to his fellow candidate, who incidentally won; well-turned out in a three piece suit; seemingly the only candidate with a hat; a sunken chin; seeming to talk slightly from the side of his mouth; he seems quite confident and relaxed in the spotlight.
Still from Electon at Ilford,
British Pathe Archive



Wikipedia have collated all of King's election contests.  The 1920 election was the penultimate election that King contested.  By this time King was a Labour candidate.  He came second with 22.9% of the vote, marginally ahead of the Liberal candidate.  The winner, Fredric Wise, a Coalition Conservative achieved 54.4% of the vote.

Still from Electon at Ilford,
British Pathe Archive

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