'Monty' Porter was not just a big admirer of Walter Bagehot. He was an admirer of 'Ernie' Bevin as well. Bevin was the Bristol drayman and trade unionist who was Foreign Secretary in Attlee's Labour Government.
In 1947 when he was working on a farm in Winsford - the village in Somerset where Bevin had been born - 'Monty' was told of Bevin's decision to order the Exodus - a ship packed with Jewish refugees - to return to the very country which had strained every muscle to slaughter them. (It was said locally that Bevin thought his father - who he had never known - had been Jewish and he was taking the opportunity of settling an old score.)
'Monty' thought Bevin's Exodus decision was badly mistaken. However in 1951 his estimation of Bevin went up a few notches. This was after he read a newspaper article in which Bevin stated
he should "be able to buy a ticket at Victoria Station to go anywhere I damn well please!" This made quite an impact on 'Monty' who had a hunger for travel (despite having only been out of Somerset twice.)
Another phrase from Bevin played a part in one of the big life-changing events in 'Monty's life. Tit-Bits magazine had carried a full page advertisement for a "Save A Fortune Cut Your Own Hair Clipper!" After taking the bait 'Monty' discovered that the "Save A Fortune Cut Your Own Hair Clipper!" was not content with just cutting his hair. It wanted to cut pieces of skin and flesh as well! It was when 'Monty' Porter was still in a state of heavily bandaged shock he came across a quotation from Ernie Bevin which really hit home. The man from Winsford had declared that the big problem with the British Working-Class was its "poverty of aspirations." It dawned on 'Monty' that his own poverty of aspirations had been the direct cause of his own bloodied head. The days of his trying to cut his own hair were gone for ever.
A few days later 'Monty' Porter was seen storming into the Winter Palace of the new semi-skyscraper department store in Bristol city centre. Within less than an hour he had sprayed a dazzling "live now, pay later!" signature on the dotted line of a five hire-purchase (HP) agreements. Buying goods on the 'never never' became second-nature for the smartly turned out 'Monty'. Some prefab residents were soon following his well coiffured lead. Those who signed 1950s' 'HP' agreements were also signing execution warrants for the old low aspirations social order.