The Original Vegan Social Movement Pioneers
The world was a very different place back in November 1944 when the Vegan Society was formed, and the beginnings of the UK vegan social movement were overshadowed by times of extreme deprivation and violence. Amongst the co founders were Dorthy Morgan and Donald Watson, later to be married, and Elsie Shrigley, who were present at the early Vegan Society meetings and helped with the production of the original Society magazine, and they were joined by a number of notable individuals who played their part in the early days, including Eva Batt and Faye Henderson, who both wrote vegan cookery books and helped spread the message about the benefits of this new way of life.
Arthur Ling was another individual who played a significant part in the development of veganism, with the foundation of the UK’s first vegan factory Plamil in 1963. Having gone vegan aged 6 in 1926, Arthur helped pioneer biodiesel from plants as well as the first commercially produced plant milks, chocolate and mayonnaise appearing in the 60’s for the ever-growing number of vegans in the UK at the time. And Kathleen Jannaway was a very influential individual during the early days of the vegan social movement, with some stirring and strident speeches that were way ahead of their time, and a strong social aspect including regular gatherings at her home.
Leslie Cross is perhaps best know for his remarkable essays exploring the concept of vegan philosophy, including the now legendary ‘The Surge for Freedom’ essay published in 1954, and helped create the original definition of veganism along with exploring vegan values and what it truly meant to be vegan. Leslie was also involved with Arthur Ling and Plamil, developing plant milks in the 1960’s, and his son Jon, a lifelong vegan, is alive and well and in his 80’s now.
The birth of the vegan social movement in 1944 and the development and early days of the movement are fascinating and inspirational, and the work of the early pioneers continues to influence and shape the modern-day vegan movement – and we owe them a profound sense of gratitude for their fortitude and resilience in the early days.
Further reading
(Interviews with people alive who have been vegan for more than 50 years)
