Return to the North

By Viking

Harry’s last stand

On the 28th November 2018 Harry Leslie Smith passed away ages 95. Until I saw his name and photo on the BBC News website I had never heard of him (no doubt the majority of us haven’t) but something drew me to reading the item rather than passing over it. What I read made me want to see more and I clicked on a link for a YouTube video of his impassioned speech at the Labour Party conference from Sept 2014 (I urge you to go check it out) His speech, his experience, his knowledge and his passion blew me away and I became a follower immediately (his legacy lives in in a movement led by his son)
He was a man born just after WW1, lived through the depression, fought in WWII and saw the NHS being formed. In his speech he articulated how important these events were and how we should not allow ourselves as a nation or world to slip back to some of those times.
In all honesty I have always been a socialist and so I’ve read and heard many men and women speak eloquently on similar subjects but Harry really nailed it for me.

For Xmas I got a gift voucher for WH Smith’s so I ordered Harry’s last book. It has taken Smiths over a month to locate a copy for me but now it is here ready for me to read. I may well buy his other books once I’ve read this one and I will be tuning in to a live streaming of his memorial service which will be on Facebook on Tuesday.

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