THE VIEWS of Prebendary George Oakley, former Rural Dean of Brent, are the much merriment in the labour movement in North-west London.
The reverend - hasband of magistrate Dorothy retired to the rural pastures of Oxfordshire two months ago, which finally brought relief to the readers of the Kilburn Times and Willesden and Brent Chronicle who had been regularly regaled with the thoughts of the right reverend.
On the day following General Election in February 1974, for example, George waxicy ex pressed to his flock the following enthusiastic sentiments: England day. eat it bor in There is need for exploding in our cities, afraid to open their mail, students rioting, pickets assaulting peaceful WOESCHA who can pretend we Eve in peace?' Who, indeed? But the rev, weat on to reveal that he had more than prayer in mind: Whoever is in poser this morning, we are going so face a long bout of auscerity -something most of us will welcome if it is going to give us our self-respect back.
A couple of weeks later, with a Labour Government in office, Gearge Oakley had evidenly decided that the resurrection Christ was a matter of extreme urgency. In his "Thinking aloud column headline "We are all too selfish' the rev, had this to say: "As long as England THEN WILLIE ENDINSE DESSE SEID people redemption, po our would have suggested that wage claims could be stopped by controlling prices, forgonen their Chriscians.
concern for the price of mear and coffee, if not for wage levels, and it was perbaps in consideration of TRIC Charch of England decided 10 abolish the time-honoured office of rural dean in Brent following the departure of the Oakleys at the of end of Seprember.
plainly ludicrous e are all too settish le accepted the Christian fram the Willesden branch.
Christianity who *віту-faiy education would have some have one might ians: oligarchs 0i the Has said.
Yet the views of the right rev. — for a cleric ensconced in a predominantly working class area admirabls reflect the conduct of most of the magistrates who disponse jusrice' Among George Oakley's nuttcrous calls to action was a demand for teachers to be trusted with a cane once again, in spile of the Dorothy Oakley anuld no doubt endorse that apicion. We hope that she does not live up to her upright partner's expectation of politic No one any longer believes that • politician says what be ricans: rather he gives the impression of hedging his bets so as never to be called to account for anything he
runwick pickets SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 1 December1977 pages