THIS week in Down Memory Lane we remember the visit 83 years ago to Tilbury by Prime Minister James Ramsay MacDonald (October 12, 1866 – November 9, 1937) who was the first ever Labour Party prime minister in 1924, and from 1929 to 1931, as well as a National Government from 1931 to 1935.

He travelled down from London on a VIP launch to officially open the new Tilbury Passenger Landing Stage on May 16, 1930.

He was welcomed by Lord Ritchie of Dundee, chairman of the Port of London Authority, Sir Josiah Stamp, president of the London Midland Scottish Railway and the Right Reverend Bishop of Barking.

There were speeches, presentations and a banquet – a surviving menu shows the wines served including Chateau Barthez 1917, Graves Superior and Pol Roger 1921 and a four course meal completed with coffee.

During his visit, the Prime Minister leant a hand with one of the mooring ropes as the P&O Liner Mongolia moored on to the landing stage, watched carefully by the Harbour Master.

The landing stage could receive up to two large passenger liners and allow the Tilbury to Gravesend ferry to operate.

The associated building facilitated the customs hall for searches and attached was the circulating hall of the Tilbury Riverside Railway station, with its six platforms.

Today the riverside complex is still busy with some 40 passenger liner visits, conferences and events.

On the weekend of June 22 and 23 further celebrations, exhibitions, music and food will be made to mark the iconic arrival 65 years ago of the SS Empire Windrush at Tilbury, with its first group of West Indians arriving to find work in Great Britain.

For more details, go to www.ticket line.co.uk/windrush-65th-anniversary-national-celebrations.