The longest strike in history was not staged by miners but by minors – the children of a small village in Norfolk. On 1 April, 1914, pupils of the Burston village school, supported by their parents, took to the streets in protest at the dismissal of their teachers, Tom and Kitty Higdon. The strike lasted for over 25 years. The story is well-documented here on the Burston Strike School website.

To commemorate this magnificent democratic protest against the establishment of the day, I have written a song telling the story of Tom and Kitty Higdon and their struggle to ensure all children received a decent education. It is a struggle that continues today in many parts of the country.

My song has been recorded by Suffolk singer Megan Wisdom and Cara Bruns. You can listen to the song here: She Lit the Fire The song is also as a CD is available from the Strike School.

She Lit the Fire – Simon Haines

To Burston school one winter’s day,
The children trudged from far away,
In threadbare clothes no hats upon their heads
They shivered with cold and fear
In their draughty classroom drear
They longed to be back home tucked in their beds.

Kitty Higdon felt their cold, Kitty Higdon shared their fear
So she bravely lit their schoolroom fire
The fire, the fire, she lit the schoolroom fire
Kitty Higdon bravely lit the schoolroom fire

Kitty cared for children well,
She didn’t threaten them with Hell,
She taught them how to think, but not to pray.
She helped them value school,
More than just a moral rule,
She taught them how to think and how to play.

Kitty Higdon thought it right not to teach by means of fright
And she bravely lit the children’s fire
The fire, the fire, she lit the children’s fire
Kitty Higdon bravely lit the children’s fire

Now Tom Higdon helped his wife
At the school throughout his life
And helped the village workers find their voice
He fought the Burston rector
Likewise the school inspector
And as councillor he was the village choice.

Tom Higdon lent a hand and the village took a stand
He bravely lit the workers’ fire
The fire, the fire, he lit the workers’ fire
Tom Higdon bravely lit the workers’ fire

Attempts were made to ban
Kitty Higdon and her man
Using charges based on threatened children’s lies
The pair were forced to leave
Which made all the village grieve
And caused the children all to go on strike.

They refused to go to school, disobeyed the rector’s rule
The children lit the Burston fire
The fire, the fire, they lit the Burston fire
The children lit the Burston fire

Working folk throughout the land
Heard the news and lent a hand
They sent money a new school for to build
The strike school soon appeared
And just as the rector feared
With village children it was quickly filled

The strike school lasted long till the Higdons both were gone.
Burston village lit the nation’s fire
A fire, a fire, Burston lit the nation’s fire,
Burston village lit the nation’s fire.