Today is the day I and many others gather to say our last goodbyes to Malcolm Campbell. Thanks to Marsha Jane for setting up to allow us to remember him fondly. It was also lovely to see a very thoughtful piece in the Sutton Guardian about Malcolm's Trade Union work
I found myself thinking of this very apt song this morning Malcolm was a huge fan of folk music and friends remember him singing this at Tolpuddle a couple of years back with another comrade Pauline Bradley
My thoughts are with his partner Jayne and his friends from many different backgrounds who will gather this afternoon to Celebrate his life. As Malcolm would want there will be memories from all his different interests, stories will be told , songs will be sung and glasses will be raised in his honour
Malcolm was also a passionate fan of Chelsea and I am sure I heard him cursing the late equaliser last night that prevented a second Champions League Final appearance! He along with others fought to kick the racists out of Chelsea in the bad old days as remembered by former London Convenor Geoff Martin in his tribute.
Goodbye Malc you were a friend, comrade, and mentor I shall miss you but never forget you.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Goodbye Comrade Malcy
Its funny how this world of ours has a habit of taking a high moment and then kicking you in the guts. That’s how I felt on Monday afternoon when I found out about the sudden death of Malcolm Campbell. Malcolm was the long-standing Branch Secretary of Croydon UNISON, member of the Regional Committee, London’s Rep on the Conference (LG) Standing Orders committee. He was a dedicated and princcipled Trade Unionist who never compromised in his beliefs and he is a massive loss to our movement. He had so much more to give and was only 56 years old. Having taken a few days to get my head round it I wanted to remember him
To me, and many others Malcolm wasn’t just a Trade Unionist however, he was a friend and someone we looked up to. This job we do can be a thankless task sometimes. In that field people who understand and make time to support eachother are at a premium, Malcolm was such a person. He had been a long standing Branch Secretary when I took over Haringey and was always willing to take the time to offer advice when asked but also to ensure you didn’t think he was telling you what was right to do. That is something I shall miss enormously.
Death at any time is sudden but this was completely out of the blue, after having had a heart attack a few years back Malc had recuperated rested and then thrown himself back into his passions of UNISON, the Trades Council, Music and Football (I’ll even forgive him his choice of team Chelsea!) I saw him for the last time only on Friday when we were planning both for UNISON’s Local Government Conference and our annual trips to our other shared passion of the Folk Festivals.
Malcolm managed to balance his endless commitment to UNISON with his other loves. He loved nothing more than going here http://www.fairportconvention.com/cropredy.php and having been with him it often felt he knew the whole crowd in person. He camped with a group of friends and their families all of whom shall miss his so much as well certainly when we sing this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvtdF0z69io in the Summer year we shall think of him as we all stood together last year arm in arm to remember those that were no longer with us.
He will also doubtless be missed by his many friends at Chelsea and in his local down in Sutton http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/12/12043/Little_Windsor/Sutton. Where he shared many a laugh and enjoyed good company and good beer.
Most of all however my thoughts are with his partner Jane and his family, at this time of this tragic loss. There are many others who were touched by Malcolm and I know there were a lot of shocked and devastated UNISON activists around London and beyond as well as colleagues who are employed by the Union.
Goodbye Malcolm we shall all miss you, I shall remember you in so many different places this year: The Conference Hall, Cropredy, Tolpuddle, amongst them. It was a privilege to call you a friend and comrade
To me, and many others Malcolm wasn’t just a Trade Unionist however, he was a friend and someone we looked up to. This job we do can be a thankless task sometimes. In that field people who understand and make time to support eachother are at a premium, Malcolm was such a person. He had been a long standing Branch Secretary when I took over Haringey and was always willing to take the time to offer advice when asked but also to ensure you didn’t think he was telling you what was right to do. That is something I shall miss enormously.
Death at any time is sudden but this was completely out of the blue, after having had a heart attack a few years back Malc had recuperated rested and then thrown himself back into his passions of UNISON, the Trades Council, Music and Football (I’ll even forgive him his choice of team Chelsea!) I saw him for the last time only on Friday when we were planning both for UNISON’s Local Government Conference and our annual trips to our other shared passion of the Folk Festivals.
Malcolm managed to balance his endless commitment to UNISON with his other loves. He loved nothing more than going here http://www.fairportconvention.com/cropredy.php and having been with him it often felt he knew the whole crowd in person. He camped with a group of friends and their families all of whom shall miss his so much as well certainly when we sing this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvtdF0z69io in the Summer year we shall think of him as we all stood together last year arm in arm to remember those that were no longer with us.
He will also doubtless be missed by his many friends at Chelsea and in his local down in Sutton http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/12/12043/Little_Windsor/Sutton. Where he shared many a laugh and enjoyed good company and good beer.
Most of all however my thoughts are with his partner Jane and his family, at this time of this tragic loss. There are many others who were touched by Malcolm and I know there were a lot of shocked and devastated UNISON activists around London and beyond as well as colleagues who are employed by the Union.
Goodbye Malcolm we shall all miss you, I shall remember you in so many different places this year: The Conference Hall, Cropredy, Tolpuddle, amongst them. It was a privilege to call you a friend and comrade
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Championes championes oleoleole
Woke up this morning with the hangover from hell but the still can't take the shitfaced grin off my face :) AFC Wimbledon the Club who according to the F.A. Commission (28.5.2002) were "not in the wider interests of football" have completed their journey to the top of the non league pyramid. It's been a long journey but there was something strangely familiar about the burning sunny day the copious amounts of alcohol and the general fan love in yesterday. It was just like Sanhurdst in 2002 in so many ways.
AFC Wimbledon was formed by ordinary people like me and is owned equally by ordinary supporters like me to this day and run as a fan democracy by our Dons Trust (and Industrial and provident society) with one member one vote. A certain ex chaitrman of a league Club once said football fans couldn't run a bath. well my bath sometimes overflows but so does my footballing cup :D
In seven years since we picked ourselves up from the shameful decision to rob our community of it's club and allow the league place ot be franchised to another town (Not a city as it claims!) we ain't done bad. Four promotions, two championships, a county cup and league cup, an appearance in the first round proper of the FA Cup. The purchase of a ground, the ongoing refurbishment of it (and ensuring we treated our co tenants properly) on and off the pitch the future is bright the future is yellow and blue :)
From a personal point of view I was delighted to present the WISA Player of the Year Trophy at half time to Ben Judge. ( I am the Treasurer of the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association) I thus got to be one of a select few fans who were allowed onto the pitch yesterday! The award was presented by myself and actor Alun Armstrong who is a long standing Wimbledon supporter. (If you doubt this just watch an episode of New Tricks and see how many times he manages to be in shot with Wimbledon merchandise or works the Club into story lines :) ) He was a very nice and approachable person as it goes and I would take a wild stab he is a good socialist to !
Oh and the day was completed by hearing that the Franchise Scum had lost at home thus ending their chances of automatic promotion. Now Come on Leeds, Come on Millwall come on Tranmere (or Scunthorpe) deal another blow for football and kill their play off chances :)
There will be many challenges ahead not least trying to increase the capacity at Kingsmeadow (the game yesterday was the latest in what I suspect may be a regular line of sell outs) For that matter the small issue of trying to secure a longer term home in our home borough ( albeit we are only 2 miles way from its boundary), turning professional and balancing all this with fan ownership. Still if Hamburg can manage it why cant we :)
We are wimbledon up and at here we go , singing wimbledon wave your colours to and throw, go with wimbledon follow us and see it through, shout and sign for the boys who fear no one , proud to wear the blue of wimbledon etc :) (We are Wimbledon F.A. Cup Final Song 1988)
Well done to Terry Brown and his management team, well done to the players, especially well done to those who give up their time to volunteer for our club. Thank you to those we elect to run it for us and those we employ to help support them.
AFC Wimbledon was formed by ordinary people like me and is owned equally by ordinary supporters like me to this day and run as a fan democracy by our Dons Trust (and Industrial and provident society) with one member one vote. A certain ex chaitrman of a league Club once said football fans couldn't run a bath. well my bath sometimes overflows but so does my footballing cup :D
In seven years since we picked ourselves up from the shameful decision to rob our community of it's club and allow the league place ot be franchised to another town (Not a city as it claims!) we ain't done bad. Four promotions, two championships, a county cup and league cup, an appearance in the first round proper of the FA Cup. The purchase of a ground, the ongoing refurbishment of it (and ensuring we treated our co tenants properly) on and off the pitch the future is bright the future is yellow and blue :)
From a personal point of view I was delighted to present the WISA Player of the Year Trophy at half time to Ben Judge. ( I am the Treasurer of the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association) I thus got to be one of a select few fans who were allowed onto the pitch yesterday! The award was presented by myself and actor Alun Armstrong who is a long standing Wimbledon supporter. (If you doubt this just watch an episode of New Tricks and see how many times he manages to be in shot with Wimbledon merchandise or works the Club into story lines :) ) He was a very nice and approachable person as it goes and I would take a wild stab he is a good socialist to !
Oh and the day was completed by hearing that the Franchise Scum had lost at home thus ending their chances of automatic promotion. Now Come on Leeds, Come on Millwall come on Tranmere (or Scunthorpe) deal another blow for football and kill their play off chances :)
There will be many challenges ahead not least trying to increase the capacity at Kingsmeadow (the game yesterday was the latest in what I suspect may be a regular line of sell outs) For that matter the small issue of trying to secure a longer term home in our home borough ( albeit we are only 2 miles way from its boundary), turning professional and balancing all this with fan ownership. Still if Hamburg can manage it why cant we :)
We are wimbledon up and at here we go , singing wimbledon wave your colours to and throw, go with wimbledon follow us and see it through, shout and sign for the boys who fear no one , proud to wear the blue of wimbledon etc :) (We are Wimbledon F.A. Cup Final Song 1988)
Well done to Terry Brown and his management team, well done to the players, especially well done to those who give up their time to volunteer for our club. Thank you to those we elect to run it for us and those we employ to help support them.
Sunday, 12 October 2008
BNP Smashed In Haringey
Follwing a very actve campaign led by UNISON, Haringey Trades Council and the Ferderation of Residents Associations the BNP received a grand total of 27 votes (0.9% of votes cast) Thid was almost no better than they received in the GLA elections where they did not stand a candidate or actively campaign in the ward.
The seat was comfortably held by the Liberal Democrats although with Labours vote remaning almost unchanged from 2006 and the Lib Dems 500 down it may show some sign of a revivial for Labour in a seat they previously held.
While the BNP may have bene seen off on this ocassion we are not being complacent and will be continuing to work closely with other anti fascist groups to help in the next real battle keeping them out of the European Seats in London.
The seat was comfortably held by the Liberal Democrats although with Labours vote remaning almost unchanged from 2006 and the Lib Dems 500 down it may show some sign of a revivial for Labour in a seat they previously held.
While the BNP may have bene seen off on this ocassion we are not being complacent and will be continuing to work closely with other anti fascist groups to help in the next real battle keeping them out of the European Seats in London.
Monday, 29 September 2008
Swab & Carthy
Just back from an excellent gig from the legends that are Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick at Croydon Folok Club. The Club is held at Ruskin house which is owned on behalf of the trade union movement, nice venue excellent gig.
It was nice to see both in a small venue and having them play togehter is something of a rarity, added bonus was getting a C.D. signed by both. Dave Swarbrick is of course the man of legend who had his obituary published in advance of his death by one of the broadsheets and took for a period to selling signed copies!
Music was very much tradtional folk stripped down to the bones,cheery little ditties lol :) As Kate Rusby commented when I saw her at Cambridge " We are going to play ome songs about sailors and death" could have been quite apt for the songs last night. That said some very lively and enjoyable hornpipes and Carolans gave for a lively contrast and the slow ones were played beautifully.
Must admit I was surprised how quiet the audience was in terms of clapping along etc in comparison to many other folk gigs I have been to.
Still all all in a throughly enjoyable evening out and another one of the legendary folk acts to chalk off my list.
It was nice to see both in a small venue and having them play togehter is something of a rarity, added bonus was getting a C.D. signed by both. Dave Swarbrick is of course the man of legend who had his obituary published in advance of his death by one of the broadsheets and took for a period to selling signed copies!
Music was very much tradtional folk stripped down to the bones,cheery little ditties lol :) As Kate Rusby commented when I saw her at Cambridge " We are going to play ome songs about sailors and death" could have been quite apt for the songs last night. That said some very lively and enjoyable hornpipes and Carolans gave for a lively contrast and the slow ones were played beautifully.
Must admit I was surprised how quiet the audience was in terms of clapping along etc in comparison to many other folk gigs I have been to.
Still all all in a throughly enjoyable evening out and another one of the legendary folk acts to chalk off my list.
Thursday, 25 September 2008
STOP THE BNP PUBLIC MEETING
THURSDAY OCTOBER 2nd, 7.30pm
NO TO RACISM - YES TO COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY!
Speakers:Sean Fox(Branch Secretary Haringey UNISON), Local Residents
@ St Andrews Centre, Alexandra Pk Rd [nr Windermere Rd] N10
Bus 102/299 to the door + bus 43/134/234/184 nearby
Meeting called by Haringey Trades Union Council, Haringey UNISON
and the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Stop the BNP in Haringey
I was shocked last week to find that the British National Party are standing a candidate in Council by election Haringey where I am UNISON Branch secretary. Haringey is one of the most diverse borough's in London having over 52 languages spoken and many prominent immigrant communities and religions.Despite extreme poverty in many parts of the borough I am proud that we had not had a sniff of the Fascists campaigning for their platform or racism, homophobia and religious bigotry in the Borough. The last major fascist activity was the National Front's march at Turnpike Lane in 1977
Having got over the anger I and other Trade Unionists and community activists decided to do something to stop this stain on democracy getting out of the sewer where it belongs, in Haringey. Tonight saw a diverse group of community activists come together to form The Haringey Anti Fascist Coalition to raise awareness of the BNP'S activities and the truth behind their lies. Alexandra Ward where the by election takes place has been a Liberal Democrat ward since 2002 having previuouslybeen Labour (as of course was much of Haringey for many years). While there is no clear evidence of fascist activitiy or support o the ground (in the GLA elections a grand total of 24 people voted BNP in the Ward) we are not complacent. One vote for the BNP is to many just as one seat is to many.
Our campaign kicks off with a public meeting in the Ward next Thursday to build anti fascist support as well as leafleting every house in the Ward in the lead up to the by election.
We are proud of Haringey's diverse make up and will not stand by while the BNP seek to undermine it in this way. After this by election we will be carefully monitoring BNP activity in the Borough and ensuring that we build maximum support for anti BNP work in the upcoming elections for the European Parliament.
Having got over the anger I and other Trade Unionists and community activists decided to do something to stop this stain on democracy getting out of the sewer where it belongs, in Haringey. Tonight saw a diverse group of community activists come together to form The Haringey Anti Fascist Coalition to raise awareness of the BNP'S activities and the truth behind their lies. Alexandra Ward where the by election takes place has been a Liberal Democrat ward since 2002 having previuouslybeen Labour (as of course was much of Haringey for many years). While there is no clear evidence of fascist activitiy or support o the ground (in the GLA elections a grand total of 24 people voted BNP in the Ward) we are not complacent. One vote for the BNP is to many just as one seat is to many.
Our campaign kicks off with a public meeting in the Ward next Thursday to build anti fascist support as well as leafleting every house in the Ward in the lead up to the by election.
We are proud of Haringey's diverse make up and will not stand by while the BNP seek to undermine it in this way. After this by election we will be carefully monitoring BNP activity in the Borough and ensuring that we build maximum support for anti BNP work in the upcoming elections for the European Parliament.
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