Political history: Our original British ecologists-where are they now?
In my spare time recently, I have been researching the history of the Ecology/Green Party, and in particular our candidates from ages past (by which I mean the 1970s and 1980s). In particular, I have been able to locate an archive containing all the names of the Ecology candidates from the 1979 general election, and I can trace at least the London ones of the 1983 general election (and also Ecology candidates of London from the 1981 Greater London Council election and London borough elections of 1982).
I have noticed many of them are still active, or at least were active recently,in green politics of one form or another, particularly in the South West region. In the spirit of the 'where are they now?' posts of the total politics website, I have found out what happened to many of those original British Greens:
Don Grimes (contested Bath in 1979 and 1983): Don is still an active Green in Bath-he contested the Bath and North East Somerset local elections of 2015.
Nicholas Albery (contested Kensington in 1979): Nicholas sadly died in 2001, aged just 52.
Jonathon Porritt (contested St Marylebone in 1979, Kensington in 1983, and the London Central European Parliament seat in 1979 and 1984): Now Chancellor of Keele University.
Chris Retallack (contested Bodmin in 1979): (unsure)
Brian Goodale (contested Hitchin in 1979): (unsure)
Jacky Dempsey (contested Bournemouth East in 1979): (unsure)
Gundula Dorey (contested Bristol North East in 1979, Bristol East in 1983, Bristol West in 1987): Gundula is still an active Green in Bristol.
John Ingham (contested Bristol West in 1979): No longer involved in active politics as far as I know, but John I. has since co-authored some books on environmental issues.
Peter Dunn (contested Reading South in 1979): Sadly died in 2014.
Jonathan Tyler (contested Birmingham Edgbaston in 1979 and earlier the Walsall North by-election of 1976, also York Central in 2015): Now lives in York.
Bert Pettit (contested Chippenham in 1979): (unsure)
Jeremy Faull (contested North Cornwall in 1979): Jeremy, one of the first ever Ecology/Green Party councillors, sadly died in 2011, aged 81.
Ray Burcham (contested Devizes in 1979): (unsure)
Tony Whittaker (contested North Devon in 1979, an earlier Coventry South East in October 1974): He sadly died in 2016.
Peter Frings (contested Exeter in 1979 and 1983): Now lives in Cheltenham.
David Kerridge (contested South Gloucestershire in 1979): Still active as a Green.
Hilary Bacon (contested Honiton in 1979): (unsure)
Jim Keeling (contested Christchurch and Lymington in 1979): (unsure)
Howard Hoptrough (contested St Ives in 1979 and 1983, Truro by-election of 1987, contested Cornwall and West Plymouth European seat in 1989): Sadly died in 1998.
Richard Carder (contested North Somerset in 1979): Still active in Friends of the Earth.
Geoffrey Garbett (contested Taunton in 1979, and Falmouth & Camborne in 2015 and 2017): Now lives in Cornwall.
David Abrahams (contested Torbay in 1979): (unsure)
Sally Rodwell (contested Westbury in 1979): (unsure)
David Corry (contested Barkton Ash in 1979): Is still active in Leeds Green Party.
Clive Lord (contested Batley and Morley in 1979,earlier he contested Leeds North East in February 1974 then Batley and Spen in 1983, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2001, and 2005; contested Leeds European seat in 1989): Clive is still very active in Leeds-one of the Green Party's most dedicated supporters and he holds the current record for most elections contested on the Green Party of England and Wales' behalf (local, national and European).
Joyce Wade (contested Keighley in 1979): (unsure)
David Whitebread (contested Loughborough in 1979 and 1983): Still an active Green Party member, along with his wife and daughter.
Peter Sizer (contested Warwick & Leamington in 1979): (unsure)
John Davenport (contested Worcester in 1979): John was a parish councillor in Worcestershire for some time, although I am unsure of where he is now.
Guy Woodford (contested Worcestershire South in 1979, 1983, 1987, and 1992): Guy now lives in Herefordshire and is still active in the Green Party.
John Beale (contested Brighton Pavilion in 1979): (unsure)
Nick Bagnall (contested Chichester in 1979 and 1987): Now lives in New Zealand.
Colin Fry (contested Gillingham in 1979): (unsure)
Anne Rix (contested Rye in 1979, and Bexhill in 1983): Now lives in Norfolk; Anne contested Torridge council's elections as recently as 2007 and Breckland's in 2015.
Peter Rout (contested Bedwelty in 1979):(unsure)
Brian Kingzett (contested Pembroke in 1979, Carmarthen in 1983, Gower in 1992): Brian was active in Wales Green Party until his death in 1999.
Cicely Marsh (contested Altrincham & Sale in 1979 and 1983): (unsure)
Anne Hill (contested Leeds East in 1979): (unsure)
Sara Parkin (contested Leeds North East in 1979): Sara Parkin became Principal Speaker in 1992, but left after an acrimonious division between Green 2000 supporters and left-wing members.
Keith Rushworth (contested Leeds North West in 1979): Keith was active in Leeds Green Party, but appears to have left in the 1990s.
Peter Lewenz (contested Pudsey in 1979): (unsure)
Alistair Laurence (contested Ripon in 1979, Leeds North West in 1983): (unsure)
David Pedley (contested Shipley in 1979): (unsure)
Biff Vernon (contested Beckenham in 1979): Biff now lives in Louth, Lincolnshire and works with Transition Louth.
Irene Coates (contested Brentford & Isleworth in 1979: Now lives on the Isle of Wight.
Steve Lambert (contested Chingford in 1979, Walthamstow in 1983): Steve still remains active in Waltham Forest Green Party, and contested local elections earlier this year in Hoe Street, as he has done for 40 years now.
David Smart (contested Dulwich in 1979): (unsure)
Geoffrey Syer (contested Hendon South in 1979): Now sadly deceased (my research found an ecological event in his memory)
Adrian Williams (contested Islington Central in 1979): Adrian is still active in London Green Party, although he has not contested any other parliamentary elections.
Peter Hussey (contested Crosby in 1979 and 1983): I have found a recent letter of Peter's from 1996, but I have found no recent information about him.
Tim Pye (contested Lowestoft in 1979): (unsure)
George Hannah (contested Norwich North in 1979, Bermondsey by-election of 1983, and Saffron Walden in 1987): (unsure)
Stewart Biggar (contested Edinburgh South in 1979):(unsure)
Unlike Derek Wall (who in a few of his blog posts has written about the early history of the Green Party) I have only been in the Green Party a few years, and therefore have not actually experienced talking with most of the people above. Therefore, I have had to rely on internet research for much of this information. I still hope nevertheless that it is helpful.
Alan.
I have noticed many of them are still active, or at least were active recently,in green politics of one form or another, particularly in the South West region. In the spirit of the 'where are they now?' posts of the total politics website, I have found out what happened to many of those original British Greens:
Don Grimes (contested Bath in 1979 and 1983): Don is still an active Green in Bath-he contested the Bath and North East Somerset local elections of 2015.
Nicholas Albery (contested Kensington in 1979): Nicholas sadly died in 2001, aged just 52.
Jonathon Porritt (contested St Marylebone in 1979, Kensington in 1983, and the London Central European Parliament seat in 1979 and 1984): Now Chancellor of Keele University.
Chris Retallack (contested Bodmin in 1979): (unsure)
Brian Goodale (contested Hitchin in 1979): (unsure)
Jacky Dempsey (contested Bournemouth East in 1979): (unsure)
Gundula Dorey (contested Bristol North East in 1979, Bristol East in 1983, Bristol West in 1987): Gundula is still an active Green in Bristol.
John Ingham (contested Bristol West in 1979): No longer involved in active politics as far as I know, but John I. has since co-authored some books on environmental issues.
Peter Dunn (contested Reading South in 1979): Sadly died in 2014.
Jonathan Tyler (contested Birmingham Edgbaston in 1979 and earlier the Walsall North by-election of 1976, also York Central in 2015): Now lives in York.
Bert Pettit (contested Chippenham in 1979): (unsure)
Jeremy Faull (contested North Cornwall in 1979): Jeremy, one of the first ever Ecology/Green Party councillors, sadly died in 2011, aged 81.
Ray Burcham (contested Devizes in 1979): (unsure)
Tony Whittaker (contested North Devon in 1979, an earlier Coventry South East in October 1974): He sadly died in 2016.
Peter Frings (contested Exeter in 1979 and 1983): Now lives in Cheltenham.
David Kerridge (contested South Gloucestershire in 1979): Still active as a Green.
Hilary Bacon (contested Honiton in 1979): (unsure)
Jim Keeling (contested Christchurch and Lymington in 1979): (unsure)
Howard Hoptrough (contested St Ives in 1979 and 1983, Truro by-election of 1987, contested Cornwall and West Plymouth European seat in 1989): Sadly died in 1998.
Richard Carder (contested North Somerset in 1979): Still active in Friends of the Earth.
Geoffrey Garbett (contested Taunton in 1979, and Falmouth & Camborne in 2015 and 2017): Now lives in Cornwall.
David Abrahams (contested Torbay in 1979): (unsure)
Sally Rodwell (contested Westbury in 1979): (unsure)
David Corry (contested Barkton Ash in 1979): Is still active in Leeds Green Party.
Clive Lord (contested Batley and Morley in 1979,earlier he contested Leeds North East in February 1974 then Batley and Spen in 1983, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2001, and 2005; contested Leeds European seat in 1989): Clive is still very active in Leeds-one of the Green Party's most dedicated supporters and he holds the current record for most elections contested on the Green Party of England and Wales' behalf (local, national and European).
Joyce Wade (contested Keighley in 1979): (unsure)
David Whitebread (contested Loughborough in 1979 and 1983): Still an active Green Party member, along with his wife and daughter.
Peter Sizer (contested Warwick & Leamington in 1979): (unsure)
John Davenport (contested Worcester in 1979): John was a parish councillor in Worcestershire for some time, although I am unsure of where he is now.
Guy Woodford (contested Worcestershire South in 1979, 1983, 1987, and 1992): Guy now lives in Herefordshire and is still active in the Green Party.
John Beale (contested Brighton Pavilion in 1979): (unsure)
Nick Bagnall (contested Chichester in 1979 and 1987): Now lives in New Zealand.
Colin Fry (contested Gillingham in 1979): (unsure)
Anne Rix (contested Rye in 1979, and Bexhill in 1983): Now lives in Norfolk; Anne contested Torridge council's elections as recently as 2007 and Breckland's in 2015.
Peter Rout (contested Bedwelty in 1979):(unsure)
Brian Kingzett (contested Pembroke in 1979, Carmarthen in 1983, Gower in 1992): Brian was active in Wales Green Party until his death in 1999.
Cicely Marsh (contested Altrincham & Sale in 1979 and 1983): (unsure)
Anne Hill (contested Leeds East in 1979): (unsure)
Sara Parkin (contested Leeds North East in 1979): Sara Parkin became Principal Speaker in 1992, but left after an acrimonious division between Green 2000 supporters and left-wing members.
Keith Rushworth (contested Leeds North West in 1979): Keith was active in Leeds Green Party, but appears to have left in the 1990s.
Peter Lewenz (contested Pudsey in 1979): (unsure)
Alistair Laurence (contested Ripon in 1979, Leeds North West in 1983): (unsure)
David Pedley (contested Shipley in 1979): (unsure)
Biff Vernon (contested Beckenham in 1979): Biff now lives in Louth, Lincolnshire and works with Transition Louth.
Irene Coates (contested Brentford & Isleworth in 1979: Now lives on the Isle of Wight.
Steve Lambert (contested Chingford in 1979, Walthamstow in 1983): Steve still remains active in Waltham Forest Green Party, and contested local elections earlier this year in Hoe Street, as he has done for 40 years now.
David Smart (contested Dulwich in 1979): (unsure)
Geoffrey Syer (contested Hendon South in 1979): Now sadly deceased (my research found an ecological event in his memory)
Adrian Williams (contested Islington Central in 1979): Adrian is still active in London Green Party, although he has not contested any other parliamentary elections.
Peter Hussey (contested Crosby in 1979 and 1983): I have found a recent letter of Peter's from 1996, but I have found no recent information about him.
Tim Pye (contested Lowestoft in 1979): (unsure)
George Hannah (contested Norwich North in 1979, Bermondsey by-election of 1983, and Saffron Walden in 1987): (unsure)
Stewart Biggar (contested Edinburgh South in 1979):(unsure)
Unlike Derek Wall (who in a few of his blog posts has written about the early history of the Green Party) I have only been in the Green Party a few years, and therefore have not actually experienced talking with most of the people above. Therefore, I have had to rely on internet research for much of this information. I still hope nevertheless that it is helpful.
Alan.
Fascinating and brilliant piece of research Alan. A few corrections/changes -
ReplyDeleteJonathan Porritt never left the Party - he is still a member.
Brian Kingzett died several years ago - a great guy - Convenor of Population Policy Working Group for many years.
Steve Lambert is, I believe, husband to Jean.
Sara Parkin - very unfair and inaccurate information - where did you read that? She was not recalled in 1992, the motion was withdrawn. Nor did she make any mistakes (I'd love to hear what they are supposed to be anyway). If anything, it was the idiots who tried to recall that caused immense damage to the Party. At the time Sara was one the best known and highly respected Green politicians in the country, regularly appeared on Question Time, etc. and one of our greatest assets. But a determined group of dissenters harried and undermined her relentlessly such that in the end she felt she could achieve more for the Green Movement outside of the Party, whereupon she teamed up with Jonathan Porrit to create Forum for the Future. I was co-opted External Communications Coordinator on the very first GPEx, in 1992; Sara Parkin was Chair, Jean Lambert and Richard Lawson were the Principal Speakers.
Green 2000 was not 'right wing'. How can you be a Green and right wing? Our policies then were just as crammed with social justice, equality, fairness, workers rights, etc. as they are now - they're all essential ingredients of ecological politics. Green 2000's mission was to re-organise the Party's governing structures to improve its efficiency and accommodate a massive increase in membership. It created GPEx and GPRC, and Jean Lambert was a leading member of it. I wrote a brief history of the Party for Green World up to 1998 which I'll post on my blog shortly.
Anyway, many thanks for doing all that research. Really interesting.
Peter Barnett
Peter, I may have already seen that history via another archived link: http://archive.today/bSmXv
ReplyDeleteYes, I know that it is not really possible to be green and right-wing in practice (although a few ecological parties around the world, like the German ODP, still believe the delusion that they can be green and right wing). And I am well aware Steve Lambert is Jean's husband-I know both of them personally.
There are also a few other Green activists of the past I am unsure about who were active in London-like Roger Shorter.
Alan.
Hi
ReplyDeleteWe left Hitchin in about 1981. We moved to the Melton Mowbray area and were pretty active in the EP there. Then we moved again in 1987. I’m not involved with the GP.
Most recently, I was shocked that the GP chose to support Remain in the referendum. When I was active in the EP, a key policy was to devolve government to the lowest possible level, and as far as I know, that is still the case. The EU is a highly undemocratic institution that exists primarily to support corporate interests. In the referendum, there was a yawning gap where there should have been a principled left-wing and/or green argument for Leave. Filling this gap would have been in line with Green Party principles, and would have done the party a power of electoral good. A massive opportunity was missed.
Overall, I have moved further and further to the left - well to the left of Labour and the Greens. My generation - I’m near retirement - has thrown away all the gains and opportunities provided by our parents. For me, green issues are still the most important, but political, social, and economic revolution has to come first. Unfortunately, the neoliberal, pro-globalisation, pro-corporate UK establishment is now firmly entrenched and will take some shifting. And anyway, no party shows any sign of wanting to shift it.
Good luck. Brian Goodale