Anglo-Soviet Youth Friendship Alliance

Date: [199-]

From: Platts-Mills, John, 1906-2001 : Autobiography

Reference: MS-Papers-6773-2

Description: Visit to Russia with ASYFA delegates (includes reference to Paddy Costello), Post-war at the Bar, visits to Romania and Prague in late 1940s, Italian Socialist Party and Pietro Nenni, Cold War, membership of Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, 1948 Olympic Games in London, further reminiscences about his parliamentary career and defeat in the 1950 election, Peace Movement of 1950s, visit to New Zealand in 1951, defence of Jock Barnes. Discusses Stalinism, British-Soviet Friendship Society and Society for Cultural Relations with USSR, further reminiscences about 1950s legal cases and law career in England and British Guiana, Iraq and Tunisia in 1960s, visit to North Vietnam as guest of Vietnam Bar Association, visit to South Africa in 1967, further notable legal cases including Kray Gang and Conway/Roberts vs Kodak, return to politics in mid-1960s, defence of Dr Safo-Adu in Ghana in 1991. Brief notes on his 6 sons - Tim, Jonathan, Tom, Barney, Ben and Mark Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: [199-]

From: Platts-Mills, John, 1906-2001 : Autobiography

Reference: MS-Papers-6773-1

Description: Chapters 1-12 covers the history of the Mills and Platts families from their arrival in New Zealand in the 1840s, John's childhood years in Wellington, education at Ocean Bay School in the Marlborough Sounds and later at Nelson College, and Victoria University College where he studied law, his participation in sporting activities, selection as a Rhodes Scholar in 1928, Oxford University years including membership of Oxford Union Society, and the beginnings of his legal career. Refers to holidays in Europe in 1930s, marriage, membership of Finsbury Branch of Labour Party, Spanish Civil War and death of Lewis Clive, farm at North Essex, communal living at Assington where the family lived with other New Zealanders and friends from beginning of World War Two, volunteer war work with London River Police and RAF Volunteer Reserve as well as legal work in London during the war years, Anglo-Soviet Youth Friendship Alliance, mining at Yorkshire Main colliery near Doncaster in 1944, association with the Churchills, his election as a Labour Member of Parliament in 1945, and delegation to Yugoslavia with reference to Tito. Quantity: 1 folder(s).