Archibald Clark Manuel

On the 1st of March, 1901 Archibald Clark Manuel, M.P., founder of the Ardrossan Labour Party was born.

Named for his maternal grandfather, Archibald Clark Manuel was born 1st March 1901, at 4pm in Ramoyle, Dunblane, Perthshire, the first of two children born to parents William Charleston Manuel and his first wife Jeanie Clark, who were married on 26th December 1899 at Dunblane. His sister Christina Jane was born on 28th November 1902. Tragically, their mother Jeanie died on 25th June 1903 in the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, from a heart attack caused by a severe reaction to anaesthesia prior to a simple perineal repair.

A little under four months later, William married widow Jessie Bayne, née King on 19th October 1903 with whom he had another two sons, William Charles, born 1904 and James Crerar, born 1906.

The 1911 census reveals that the Manuel family were living at Blue Gates Lodge, Ferntower Estate, Crieff where William was employed as an Estate Woodcutter. Archibald left school after completing an elementary education but later attended night classes held by the National Council of Labour Colleges which were founded in October 1921 to further the education of working-class children.

Archibald came to Ardrossan in 1920 to work for the Glasgow & South-Western railway. While in Ardrossan he attended the South Beach United Free Church young men’s club and became leader of the club and secretary of its football team. He was also an active member of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF). In 1927 he joined the Labour Party.

The rest of the Manuel family moved to Salen, Argyllshire between 1925 and 1930 where they were employed in the local timber operations. His father William C. Manuel died in 1930.

In 1930 Archibald Clark Manuel went to work for the London, Midland and Scottish Railways at Plaistow, in the east end of London. He was elected chairman of the London District Council of the Union in 1933.

Archibald returned to Ardrossan in 1934 and in 1935 was elected a member of the Ardrossan Town Council, serving from 1935 until 1950. In November 1940 he was appointed a Junior Baillie and was later appointed a Senior Baillie. He also served as treasurer and convener of several committees. During World War Two he was Convener of the Committee in charge of the British Restaurant in Princes Street, Ardrossan. The Ardrossan Unionist Club was requisitioned and enlarged to accommodate the British Restaurant.

In 1939 he founded the Ardrossan Labour Party of which he was elected President. He was the Ardrossan representative to Ayr County Council and was chairman of the Public Health and Remand Home committees. He also served as vice-chairman of the Scottish National Housing and Town Planning Council and following the introduction of the National Health Service, he served as a member of the Western Hospital Regional Board, and as a member of the Ayrshire Executive Council which dealt with General Practitioner Services throughout Ayrshire.

Archibald served as Member of Parliament for Central Ayrshire twice. He was first elected on 23rd February 1950, then re-elected in 1951, serving until 26th May 1955 when Labour lost their seat to the Conservatives. His maiden speech in the House of Commons in 1950 was on the subject of Scotland’s housing needs. Four years later he was elected on 8th October 1959 and served until he retired on 18th May 1970. On Saturday 25th October 1952 he officially opened the new Saltcoats Labour Party Hall in Bradshaw Street.

He married Maud Strain on 20th June 1933, at 28 McDowall Avenue, Ardrossan, and had one daughter Christina Jane. Upon returning to Ardrossan, they settled at 24 Barrie Terrace, Ardrossan, later moving to 44 White Craig Road, Ardrossan.

In his private life he was very interested in the Co-operative Society movement, and he was a member of the Saltcoats Literary and Debating Society.

His wife, Maud Strain, died on 11th September 1965 in Ballochmyle Hospital, Mauchline, aged 53. After retiring from politics, Archibald moved to Eorna Cottage, Strontian, Argyllshire. He died on 10th October 1976 in a hospital in Birkenhead, Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, following a prolonged illness, aged 75, and is buried in Ardrossan Cemetery, Mid-West North Section ‘C’, grave 273.