Farewell, Brian

I first met Brian over fifty years ago, when we were launching Rochdale’s Alternative Paper (RAP); our friendship was cemented then and thrived until his sad demise last Friday.

Our first encounter was over a story I wrote, in which he displayed a number of characteristics that were, for me, to help define his life. Always a staunch trade unionist, for him the rights of his fellow beings trumped any formal structures. So, the story - in brief - was of a number of Asian workers who were being abused, discriminated against and under-paid on the night shift of Arrow Mill, one of Rochdale’s last functioning textile mills. Neither management nor textile trade union cared a hoot - the latter was happy to turn a blind eye. Brian’s instinctive decency and concern for his fellow worker came to the fore, and he was able to organise the shift, from the outside and provide support that saw many of their grievances addressed.

Brian’s pro-worker, anti-union bureaucrat stance was often to get him into trouble. Others will know more of his more recent struggles on behalf of the anti-black-listing campaigns.

The gratitude of many of those he supported at Arrow Mill remained until Brian’s dying days, as some, who had long departed Rochdale remained in touch. The fact “the lads” were recent Pakistani immigrants was of no concern to Brian. His support was driven by his discomfort at the injustice they experienced. That “colour blindness” later got him denounced as a racist, when he was vocal in condemning textile sweatshop labour in the town, because it was perceived, by the hyper-sensitive, to be anti immigrant, rather than pro workers rights and working conditions that had been fought for over the previous century and a half.

Brian played a significant role in helping uncover RAP’s biggest story, and later national scandal - the exposure of Cyril Smith as a child abuser. Brian knew some of the victims and helped RAP trace them, in the 1970s, and later assisted distinguished national journalist and son of Rochdale, Paul Waugh, with his revelations thirty five years later. He had no truck with the trashy “drama-documentary” on the subject published by local disgraced MP, Simon Danczuk and his side kick eight years or so, ago.

Brian assisted RAP in much of the unglamorous stuff too - the collation, folding and the distribution. It was early mornings and late nights, with zero recognition or reward, except for feeling that you were attempting to get messages of injustice publicised and showing solidarity with the under-dog. Brian was no glory hunter, although his struggles often gained attention, he never sought it.

Often intense and serious, Brian was not without a mischievous sense of humour, as many who recall his hearty cackle will testify. On one occasion in the 70s we persuaded him to stand as a candidate in the Rochdale municipal elections, to represent Rochdale’s Alternative Party (RAP). He stood in the town’s most affluent ward, which just so happened to be called Bamford (“Bamford for Bamford” had a certain campaigning appeal!). Among his pledges was to have a Travellers’ Site erected on Norford Way (the poshest road in town, which at the time housed a member of pop group 10cc and a Lancashire and England cricketer, as well as the area’s wealthier professionals and business owners. To nobody’s surprise and Brian’s great relief, he was spectacularly unsuccessful!

On a more serious note was Brian’s great love of Spain, brought about initially by periods working as an electrician in Gibraltar. At some considerable personal risk, he was involved in supplying anti-fascist resisters in Franco’s Spain with literature and materials he was able to smuggle over the border. He had little truck with other more celebrated anarchists who publicised their actions and put others at risk, as a consequence.

His periods in Spain engendered in him a love of the country, its literature and cuisine, and he was a dab hand at putting together a tasty Spanish culinary delight or two.

Brian has always been a polemicist and publisher - not only through RAP, but with any number of leftist/anarchist publications. The original, paper copy of Northern Voices and this blog being the latest manifestation. It is hard work, particularly trailing round newsagents and bookshops, often by public transport to deliver copies and pick up returns and payments. It’s the nature of small publications that they rarely get pride of place in shop displays, and sales can be hit and miss and often disappointing. Brian would not be put off - he always soldiered on, without complaint.

I left Rochdale 40 years ago, but we maintained our friendship. He was a frequent visitor, and always stayed when he was down for conferences and the annual Anarchist Bookfair. There was always a campaign to be fought, and important discussion to be had, by his ever inquisitive mind.

He was a frequent phone caller, to discuss current affairs, or just plain gossip. For a while the calls always lasted 59 minutes and 30 seconds- the maximum free call time allowed by his service provider. His timing was immaculate!

In recent years we came to share a delight of holidays in Norfolk (although never together); Brian with Pat, his partner over 30 years and wife for the last two months of his life, and me, my wife and two dogs (I am writing from there now). We took great delight in our respective times in this glorious county: we in our rented cottage. And Brian, until his 80s, never one for ceremony or appearance, with Pat in youth hostels. 

And how fitting, because Brian was Forever Young (yes the works and songs of Bob Dylan were frequent topics of discussion.

Farewell, Brian.

I’ll miss you, comrade.