Harold Wilson, former Prime Minister and Chancellor of Bradford University, liked to be pictured holding or smoking a pipe. But in private, the Huddersfield-born Wilson preferred to relax with a big cigar and a brandy.

In 1974, two years before he abruptly announced his retirement on March 16, 1976, he was in his home town to attend the annual speech day of his old school, Royds Hall School, scheduled for the Town hall.

It was Friday, February 8. Earlier that day, Tory Prime Minister Edward Heath, in trouble at home with trades unions and abroad in Northern Ireland, had announced a snap General Election.

As leader of her Majesty’s Official Opposition, Harold Wilson had a lot to do very quickly. On the afternoon of the speech day, he ordered a meeting with local Labour Party leaders at Holly Bank teacher training college, formerly Huddersfield College of Education (Technical), a future student of which was Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Former Holly Bank principal lecturer Robert Owen, who has written a short history of the college, recalls what happened next after Harold Wilson’s Labour Party meeting.

“...Harold Wilson and his party hurriedly returned to the George Hotel. It was there, after a consultation with his press secretary Joe Haines, that the leader of the Labour Party realised he urgently needed the services of an experienced shorthand typist for his press release the following morning.”

The only secretarial student available was Angela Owen, Robert’s wife. After she agreed to help, he drove her and a portable typewriter to the George Hotel, where Joe Haines was waiting.

Wilson dictated before and after the speech day, Churchillian cigar in one hand, large brandy in the other. Late into the night, Angela Owen typed up Wilson’s speech which had to be telephoned to Transport House, Labour Party HQ, by ten the following morning.

“A week or so later, Angela received a letter of thanks from the Labour Party with an appropriate cheque. The cheque bought a new coat which became known as her Harold Wilson coat...

“Three weeks later, the socialists throughout the college rejoiced when the Labour Party gained 301 seats to the Conservatives’ 297, Liberals’ 14 and others’ 23.”

After failing to come to terms with the Liberals regarding a coalition, Heath resigned and Harold Wilson was back in 10 Downing Street. He stayed two years before stepping down for James Callaghan. Harold Wilson died in 1995, aged 79.

  • Memories Of Holly Bank, by Robert Owen, is published by Write Good Books at £8.