Dave Hann, co-author, with Steve Tilzey, of No Retreat : The Secret War between Britain’s Anti-fascists and the Far Right (Milo Books), died of cancer on September 29, 2009.
See also : Fightdemback interview with Dave Hann, co-author No Retreat, July 11, 2006 | Football Club United of Manchester | Slammy: Presente! (August 3, 2007).
Big loss.
Upstart and Slammy are a big moment for antifa.
Great loss of an individual who did so much to smash the BNP during AFA’s main period of action, solid Anti Fascist and great person of influence to all around him, will be sadly missed.
The gay communities of London, Brighton and Manchester will sleep easier in their beds now.
One gets the feeling that LTGB AFA is not who they say.
RIP Dave
Decent bloke, good sense of humour and spoke a lot of sense. With respect.
Dave died as a committed anti-fascist fighter, a person trying to maintain his contribution to his community. When he had less than a week to live and already very ill, he helped advise a group that had gathered together to defend the Deghayes family, relatives of the former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Deghayes, who in their Saltdean home on the outskirts of Brighton (where the BNP have mustered 10% of the vote) have faced a campaign of racist and religious abuse.
I knew Dave Hann for 15 years, lived with him and loved all that time. I remember his involvement with AFA when it was still a fighting force and as a writer and activist in Brighton where we made our home and brought up three children. I am sure it is not cool to say so in a blog, but I am offended and hurt by implication in strange post from LTGB AFA. I am not entirely sure who they may be, but rather than post libelous nonsense they are welcome to visit Brighton talk to Dave’s friends and neighbours and find out a little about his life. In the last couple of years, he made important contribution to a local residents group, representing the kind of diverse community (all kinds of political, ethnic, sexual and religious identities) characteristic of Brighton. He brought practical and organizational skills, learnt though years of anti-fascist work, to the group and was trusted because of his respect for the right of people to control their own lives. I will leave my contact details with blog moderator, so please get in touch.
Andy, thanks for posting this. I was sad to read of this far too early loss. I met Dave once or twice at national AFA events, although never more than a few brief words. Thanks Louise for your comments, and so sorry for your loss.
No worries Bob.
And yes: thank you Louise.
My sympathies again to Louise and the kids; the attendance at Dave’s funeral and the broad range of people represented there showed the respect he was held in. Ignore the small minded.
[I am a silly troll from Barnsley in the UK.]
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