Title: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Longy on March 14, 2014, 07:29:12 AM http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18686794
Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: tikay on March 14, 2014, 07:55:56 AM What terrible news, although of course he was closing in on 90 years of age, so not unexpected. Despite disagreeing with his political views on almost every count, I adored listening to him speak on Radio & TV. Bit like listening to Enoch Powell, you don't need to agree with his views to enjoy the beautiful style of oratory. He published his Diaries in several volumes, 5 or 6 I think, & they are the equal best Diaries I've ever read from a Politician, the other being from Alan Clark, who was at exactly the other end of the Political spectrum. The most likeable aspect of him was that he was a thoroughly decent, good man. A really good man. The world is a poorer place without him, but he'll be upstairs, in a better place, where he deserves to be. I'm so saddened to learn of his passing. RIP Mr Benn. Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: tikay on March 14, 2014, 08:06:50 AM When I was a (relatively) young man, Tony Benn - then Lord Wedgewood Benn I think, but he later renounced his Peerage - was the "Postmaster General", a big position in those days.
In that role, he "closed down" the Pirate Radio Stations, moored off Frinton on Sea, Essex. We despised him for that, because until then, we never had "pop music" on the radio, but it was his idea to introduce Radio 1, & the rest, for better or worse, is history. I might just have forgiven him for that eventually. Simply a good man. "This idea that politics is all about charisma and spin is rubbish," he said. " It is trust that matters." Many of us disliked him, or his policies. I don't recall anyone disliking him though. Do please try & read his Diaries, some of which were penned by his late wife, Caroline, I seem to recall. He was devestated when she passed away, some 15 years asgo. Family life was very important to him, & he was incredibly proud of his children, all of whom are in Politics. A large part of his Diaries revolved around family life, & fine detail. Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: tikay on March 14, 2014, 08:08:59 AM From Wiki....... Benn met Caroline Middleton DeCamp (born 13 October 1926, Cincinnati, Ohio) over tea at Worcester College in 1949 and nine days later he proposed to her on a park bench in the city. Later, he bought the bench from Oxford City Council and installed it in the garden of their home in Holland Park Benn is a first cousin once removed of the late actress Dame Margaret Rutherford See..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Benn Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Acidmouse on March 14, 2014, 08:52:51 AM Sad times, imo one of the great politicians.
Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Tonji on March 14, 2014, 09:21:32 AM "If ever I left the House of Commons it would be because I wanted to spend more time on politics." Tony Benn 1998.
RIP Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: tikay on March 14, 2014, 09:22:15 AM "If ever I left the House of Commons it would be because I wanted to spend more time on politics." Tony Benn 1998. RIP And he did EXACTLY that, of course. Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: TightEnd on March 14, 2014, 10:15:33 AM Not my cup of tea at all in terms of politics, the diaries are a great read, and had to admire his conviction and debating
Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: booder on March 14, 2014, 10:36:59 AM Sad times, imo one of the great politicians. Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Ironside on March 14, 2014, 11:20:04 AM Sad times I might have totally different politically beliefs but still think he could of been a great leader in his prime, when he spoke in the commons the commons listened
Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: redarmi on March 14, 2014, 01:20:15 PM When I was a (relatively) young man, Tony Benn - then Lord Wedgewood Benn I think, but he later renounced his Peerage - was the "Postmaster General", a big position in those days. In that role, he "closed down" the Pirate Radio Stations, moored off Frinton on Sea, Essex. We despised him for that, because until then, we never had "pop music" on the radio, but it was his idea to introduce Radio 1, & the rest, for better or worse, is history. I might just have forgiven him for that eventually. Simply a good man. "This idea that politics is all about charisma and spin is rubbish," he said. " It is trust that matters." Many of us disliked him, or his policies. I don't recall anyone disliking him though. Do please try & read his Diaries, some of which were penned by his late wife, Caroline, I seem to recall. He was devestated when she passed away, some 15 years asgo. Family life was very important to him, & he was incredibly proud of his children, all of whom are in Politics. A large part of his Diaries revolved around family life, & fine detail. Slightly pendantic but he was Viscount Stansgate. A great man. RIP. Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Doobs on March 14, 2014, 01:44:19 PM When I was a (relatively) young man, Tony Benn - then Lord Wedgewood Benn I think, but he later renounced his Peerage - was the "Postmaster General", a big position in those days. In that role, he "closed down" the Pirate Radio Stations, moored off Frinton on Sea, Essex. We despised him for that, because until then, we never had "pop music" on the radio, but it was his idea to introduce Radio 1, & the rest, for better or worse, is history. I might just have forgiven him for that eventually. Simply a good man. "This idea that politics is all about charisma and spin is rubbish," he said. " It is trust that matters." Many of us disliked him, or his policies. I don't recall anyone disliking him though. Do please try & read his Diaries, some of which were penned by his late wife, Caroline, I seem to recall. He was devestated when she passed away, some 15 years asgo. Family life was very important to him, & he was incredibly proud of his children, all of whom are in Politics. A large part of his Diaries revolved around family life, & fine detail. Slightly pendantic but he was Viscount Stansgate. A great man. RIP. Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: redarmi on March 14, 2014, 02:08:13 PM Oh god!!!!!! FML. Pedantic.....
Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Woodsey on March 14, 2014, 02:52:57 PM .
Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Geo the Sarge on March 14, 2014, 07:15:51 PM When I was a (relatively) young man, Tony Benn - then Lord Wedgewood Benn I think, but he later renounced his Peerage - was the "Postmaster General", a big position in those days. In that role, he "closed down" the Pirate Radio Stations, moored off Frinton on Sea, Essex. We despised him for that, because until then, we never had "pop music" on the radio, but it was his idea to introduce Radio 1, & the rest, for better or worse, is history. I might just have forgiven him for that eventually. Simply a good man. "This idea that politics is all about charisma and spin is rubbish," he said. " It is trust that matters." Many of us disliked him, or his policies. I don't recall anyone disliking him though. Do please try & read his Diaries, some of which were penned by his late wife, Caroline, I seem to recall. He was devestated when she passed away, some 15 years asgo. Family life was very important to him, & he was incredibly proud of his children, all of whom are in Politics. A large part of his Diaries revolved around family life, & fine detail. Slightly pendantic but he was Viscount Stansgate. A great man. RIP. The Lord Wedgwood was an officer in my Regiment in my early days, one of his forenames was Anthony, easy error. He too died recently although still quite a young man http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Tributes-paid-Lord-Wedgwood-dies-aged-59/story-20659193-detail/story.html Geo Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: kinboshi on March 14, 2014, 07:18:43 PM Tony Benn. What a great man.
RIP As has been posted elsewhere, if he was deemed as "the most dangerous man in Britain" by the s*n then he certainly did something right :) Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Claw75 on March 14, 2014, 07:46:02 PM Sad news, and to lose Bob Crow at only 52 years old in the same week. Both men of conviction who worked hard to achieve what they thought was good and right for the majority.
RIP Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Woodsey on March 14, 2014, 08:01:03 PM Is that village idiot Dennis Skinner still knocking around or has he popped his clogs?
Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Ironside on March 15, 2014, 02:46:51 AM Is that village idiot Dennis Skinner still knocking around or has he popped his clogs? think he is still an MP Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Woodsey on March 15, 2014, 02:57:51 AM Is that village idiot Dennis Skinner still knocking around or has he popped his clogs? think he is still an MP Oh dear......thank fk most sensible people think he's a clown ;tracet; Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: tikay on March 15, 2014, 08:10:01 AM Is that village idiot Dennis Skinner still knocking around or has he popped his clogs? He remains a sitting MP. I believe he is 82 years old, & is probably the only MP who attends every single sitting of the House. Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: david3103 on March 15, 2014, 08:16:09 AM Sad news, and to lose Bob Crow at only 52 years old in the same week. Both men of conviction who worked hard to achieve what they thought was good and right for the majority. RIP Don't think you can mention the two in the same breath. Worlds apart in the depth of their convictions and the manner in which they acted on them. Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: redarmi on March 16, 2014, 03:34:17 PM Sad news, and to lose Bob Crow at only 52 years old in the same week. Both men of conviction who worked hard to achieve what they thought was good and right for the majority. RIP Don't think you can mention the two in the same breath. Worlds apart in the depth of their convictions and the manner in which they acted on them. Really? What was different about the depths of their convictions? Title: Re: RIP Tony Benn Post by: Kmac84 on March 16, 2014, 03:45:36 PM A very sad week for socialists and workers on these Islands with the deaths of Bob and Tony. May both they rest in peace and I hope whoever takes on their mantle stand up to the plate.
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