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Frank Gray, MP, disguised as a tramp
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Frank Gray, MP, disguised as a tramp
In the late 1920s, former Oxford Liberal MP Frank Gray (1880-1935) disguised himself as a tramp to experience first-hand the life of such individuals, including stays at several workhouse casual wards. He then tried to help many young tramps and vagrants to escape from their life on the road
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Media ID 4470387
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10424751
Casual Disguise Disguised Escape Experience Frank Gray L Aw Liberal Member Oxford Parliament Poor Poverty Stick Tramp Tramps Vagrant Vagrants Verge Ward Wards Workhouse Workhouses
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This thought-provoking photograph captures Frank Gray, the former Liberal MP for Oxford (1880-1935), disguised as a tramp in the late 1920s. Gray, who had grown tired of the political rhetoric surrounding poverty and homelessness, decided to experience first-hand the harsh realities of life on the road. He spent time in casual wards of workhouses, living as a vagrant and gaining a deep understanding of the struggles faced by young tramps. The image shows Gray, dressed in tattered clothing and carrying a worn-out stick, sitting on the verge of a road. He wears a tattered hat and holds a law book in his hand, a stark contrast to his previous life as a parliamentarian. This disguise allowed him to gain the trust of other tramps and vagrants, enabling him to help many of them escape from their cycle of poverty and homelessness. Gray's actions were a bold move in the 1930s, a time when poverty and unemployment were rampant, and the plight of the homeless was often overlooked or dismissed. His experiences led him to become an advocate for better housing and social welfare policies, using his political platform to make a difference in the lives of those most in need. This photograph is a poignant reminder of a significant moment in British history, when a politician chose to put aside his privileges and immerse himself in the lives of the poor and marginalized. Frank Gray's actions continue to inspire us today, as we strive to understand and address the complex issues of poverty and homelessness.
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