In praise of Jeffrey
I didn't know that Jeffrey had moved south - to Sussex, I hear - but would like to put in a good word for him.
I found him to be a sincere and hard-working man for whom it was a pleasure to work. He had to deal with the outbreak of hostilities between Michael Holmes and the 'NEC Nine', led by Tony Scholefield, which erupted within three months of his election to the European Parliament.
The stormy conference, which effectively was a vote of no confidence in Michael Holmes, followed in January 2000 - and I recall that Jeffrey made a statesmanlike speech during the debate. He tried to mediate between the two 'sides'. The dispute was exceptionally bitter.
After becoming Party Leader in April 2000 (if memory serves), he had to contend with Nigel Farage effectively trying to run the party and making most of the decisions. Nigel's selling of a BBC video, apparently in breach of copyright, was the last straw for Bryan Smalley, who promptly resigned as Party Secretary.
I'd like to think that my time with him, which ended in February 2001, was reasonably productive; a lot of people were kind enough to say so at the time.
He was a very fair employer and cared about his country and the success of the party.
In fairness to other names on this thread, both Donald Davidson as Chairman of C.I.B. Essex and Stuart Gulleford as their Press Officer contributed to Essex C.I.B. being easily the largest C.I.B. branch in the country, with well over 300 members at its peak. Both men were helpful to me whilst I worked for Jeffrey. There were many well-attended Essex C.I.B. branch meetings at The Saracen's Head.
In October 1999, just three months after Jeffrey was elected M.E.P., Donald organised a highly effective public meeting on Europe at which I think around 250 attended. That was the start of my anti-metric 'awakening'. I could scarcely believe that Britain was about to make it a crime to sell in pounds and ounces - and distributed, on behalf of U.K.I.P., a leaflet on the subject.
It was read by a Leigh-on-Sea butcher, the late Dave Stephens.
On 3 January 2000, Dave was handed an enforcement notice by Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority, ordering him to cease using his Imperial scales. To which he blew a raspberry.
On 6 January 2000, Jeffrey Titford paid in a personal cheque for £50 at the NatWest Bank in Chelmsford, and thus the 'UKIP Metric Martyrs Fund' was begun
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