PRAISE from the veteran left-winger Tony Benn is the crowning achievement for a Fylde councillor turned author in his 80th year.

The firebrand MP has written a foreword to Alf Goldberg's new book, World's End for Sir Oswald, recalling the East End battles against fascist Blackshirt-leader Sir Oswald Mosley in the 1930s.

"A really important book," is Mr Benn's judgment printed on the cover. "Beautifully-written with rare insights into the circumstances of the time."

Said Councillor Goldberg (pictured): "That has given me great satisfaction. I've met Tony Benn a few times but I didn't dream he would come up with such a glowing response."

Coun Goldberg, Staining's Labour councillor, has been a Fylde resident for 30 years but his strong cockney accent betrays his upbringing in World's End - then an impoverished area of Chelsea and now the upmarket haunt of City professionals.

By the mid-30s Mosley was stirring up anti-semitic hatred with his Blackshirt marches through the East End.

"I was there and it was terrifying," said Coun Goldberg, whose family were Jewish immigrants.

"That's one of the reasons I wanted to write the book - racism is always under the surface and there's a real possibility under certain circumstances that the Mosley situation could all start again." He cites the tiny but worrying appearance in Blackpool of the far-right British National Party and even the sinister Combat 18.

Though brought up in the ghetto-like conditions of the World's End during the Depression, his mother was in service to an upper class Kensington family, who in summer would de-camp leaving the Goldbergs in charge of their luxurious mansion.

After serving in the RAF during the war, Coun Goldberg became a transport manager before settling in the Fylde to start his own garage business in 1971.

A father and grandfather, he lives in Chain Lane with his wife Dolly.

World's End for Sir Oswald will be published by the Book Guild on August 26, price £10.95.

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