| |
Alan’s would want us to pass on the inspiration
• I WOULD like to thank everyone who made the memorial for Alan Walter (right) so moving and for all the messages and support to his family.
Alan touched so many people in his life. He inspired us to believe we don't have to put up with what is wrong with this society and that we can fight to change it.
He was already convinced of that when I first met him as a teenager and it was why he worked and campaigned so hard.
It was also why he wasn’t bothered by fuss or frills but took great pleasure out of simple joys in life.
Now we have to get along without him.
We all know what he would expect us to do. We have to make sure all those campaigns he inspired continue – for council housing, against racism, for a future for young people. There ain’t one person who can fill Alan’s shoes, so we are going to have to do it collectively.
He would also hope that we pass on the inspiration he gave us to a new generation of socialists fighting for a better world.
Candy Udwin
Baths fight
It’s quite right that Alan Walter regularly swam 50 lengths (John Gulliver, March 12) at the Kentish Town swimming baths, before Camden Council fell over themselves in their eagerness to close them more than a year before the renovation work could even start. He and I often met there.
Jolly fast he used to go too, though he was always considerate to other swimmers. Although he had so many other commitments, he found time to fight for Kentish Town baths to stay open as long as possible because the kids of Peckwater and Talacre need a swimming pool close by.
He is a sad loss to local swimming.
RODERICK ALLISON
Elaine Grove, NW5
Sincerity
• WE were very saddened to hear about the tragic and untimely passing of Alan Walter.
Alan was a friend, colleague and inspiration to us over the years that we knew him. He showed how to be single minded in achieving his goals without wanting personal recognition or reward whilst retaining his integrity.
He never spoke ill about anyone who opposed his views and always stood by his democratic beliefs in the service of others.
Quite simply, he believed in a principle and set out to defend it in his own inimitable way.
Alan will always be remembered as an extraordinary person.
He was a tireless and completely selfless community and national campaigner.
He also possessed the energy, drive, intelligence, and perhaps most important of all, the sincerity of a very special human being.
Alan, you were the star who shone so brightly among us.
You will be missed by many people in Camden and beyond.
We also wish to offer our sincere condolences to Alan’s family at this very sad time.
DAVID RODGERS
Petra Dando
Address supplied
NW5
Respects
• DEFEND Council Housing is mourning the death of its chair, Alan Walter.
Alan, a council tenant in Camden, was there at the start of the Defend Council Housing campaign in 1997.
It has been a collective effort of many, and Alan played down his individual selfless efforts, but he inspired and led in a way that contributed the binding glue of this collective.
We’ve come a long way: from 2000 when pundits predicted the end of council housing to the Prime Minister’s latest commitment to build council housing.
Now all we want is the hard cash to back up those “warm words”.
Alan leaves a family and many friends and comrades who will miss him deeply.
To send messages of support and condolence to the campaign and to his family email info@defendcouncil housing.org.uk
Defend Council Housing will be holding a national meeting to work out how to proceed.
Meanwhile, the way to show your respects is to help us stop privatisation and win direct investment.
EILEEN SHORT
Lesley Carty
for DCH National Committee
|
 |
|
|
| |
| |
