Seacombe-raised Giant of the Trade Union Movement Honoured
A giant of the trade union movement has been honoured with the unveiling of a Blue Plaque at his childhood home in Seacombe.
Walter Citrine served as General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) for 20 years between 1926 and 1946 during which time he became an influential figure, both on the labour movement and in national politics, being appointed as a member of the Privy Council by Winston Churchill during the Second World War.
He was ennobled with a hereditary peerage for his role in the war effort as the First Baron of Wembley in 1947, choosing the title after living in Wembley Park for many years with his family.
Though born in Liverpool in August 1887, Walter’s formative years were spent at the family home at 17 Lucerne Road, Seacombe, which is where the heritage plaque was unveiled on Friday 22nd August 2025 by Wirral’s Mayor, Cllr Brian Kenny.
The current General Secretary of the TUC, Paul Nowak, who is also a proud Wirralian, was also in attendance at the unveiling, along with two former General Secretaries, Lord John Monks and Lord Brendan Barber.
Cllr Kenny, who has been a trade union official himself since 1970, said
I was born in Seacombe in 1952, just a stones-throw from the childhood home of Walter Citrine on Lucerne Rd - and I now live on the site of one of his former workplaces, in New Brighton.
Throughout my time as a trade unionist, whenever there has been a disagreement or confusion over how to proceed at a Branch meeting, Annual Conference or whatever, the question would always be “What does Citrine say?
In those days, I had no idea who Citrine was, but I soon learnt that he was a former TUC General Secretary who had literally written the book on stewardship with ‘The ABC of Chairmanship’ which was regarded then, and still is, as the 'Bible' of union procedures.
I have since learnt that there is a lot more to the life of Walter Citrine. Walter has been an inspiring figure in my life for many years, and thanks to the excellent biography written by my good friend and former CWU Officer, Dr. Jim Moher, (“Walter Citrine, Forgotten Statesman of the Trades Union Congress”), everyone can now appreciate the amazing life and huge contribution he made.
It is a great pleasure to honour Walter with a Blue Plaque in a place so closely connected with his early years, and to welcome so many people, including Walter's relatives, back to Wirral.
