Noreen Branson

Who was Noreen Branson?

Noreen Branson was a communist activist, and historian of the Communist Party of Great Britain. She worked for the Labour Research Department from 1938, until her death, editing its magazine for 28 years.

She was daughter of Lord Alfred Browne, son of Henry Ulick Browne, fifth Marquess of Sligo, and she came out as a debutante. She married the artist Clive Branson, with whom she had a daughter, Rosa. Noreen and Clive joined the Independent Labour Party together, before transferring their allegiance to the Communist Party.

After the death of James Klugmann, Noreen Branson took over the authorship of the official History of the Communist Party of Great Britain, adding volumes for the years 1927–45 and 1945–51.