ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the life and achievements of George Smith, also known as 'the Children's Friend'. He experienced the working life of a child in a harsh industry and his efforts as an adult to make changes were rooted in those early experiences. George Smith was unusual in seeking an education and he attended night school. George ran the Whitwick Colliery Company's Terra Metallic Tileries, Ornamental White Brick and Pipeworks without employing any children under the age of twelve, nor any girls or women at all. Once he had achieved changes to the law for brickyards he then moved on to campaign for legislative change to protect children working and living on the canals. His appeal to improve conditions for canal children was effectively launched at the 1874 Sunday School Anniversary of Moira Primitive Methodist chapel where he used the occasion to describe the terrible conditions in which they lived and the lack of access to education.
