Freedom casket

The casket was presented to James Henry Thomas on his being made an Honourable Freeman of Newport in 1924. Thomas had a remarkable political career. He was heavily involved in the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) and as the organisationÂ’s general secretary in the successful rail strike in 1919. He was elected MP for Derby in 1910 and later appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies and Lord Privy Seal with responsibility for employment. The casket has a domed lid bearing the enameled arms of the County Borough of Newport. The front has panels painted in enamel with Newport views of St. PaulÂ’s National School, Commercial Street and Newport Harbour. The back shows St. PaulÂ’s Church and the G.W.R. steam locomotive Chepstow Castle.