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From The Socialist newspaper, 3 September 2008
Terry Fields memorial meeting
"TERRY FIELDS was a great comrade, loved and respected by many socialists, trade unionists and political activists. Most of all he was loved by working-class people, especially in his former constituency of Liverpool Broadgreen", said Peter Taaffe at a memorial meeting for Terry Fields on 27 August.
Clara Paillard
Even after his sad death in June 2008, Terry Fields is still able to attract hundreds to a political meeting. Around 200 people attended the commemoration, organised by Merseyside Campaign for a New Workers' Party (CNWP).
The event opened with a film showing different times in Terry's life. Footage from 1988 showed him addressing a huge crowd of strikers and giving them his support during the postal workers' strike at Copperas Hill mail centre.
It was followed by extracts from his general election speech in 1992, and from Pete Naylor's Tales from the Riverbank with Terry reflecting on the last three decades, including his imprisonment for refusing to pay the Poll Tax and the role of the 49 Liverpool councillors who stood up to Thatcher. This montage reflected Terry Field's life and contribution as a great socialist, a man of principles but also a human being with a great sense of humour.
It was great to hear Terry speak for himself and remind comrades that they should carry on his struggle and great work to better the life of the working class. Paul Astbury, former deputy leader of Liverpool council during the 1980s introduced several speakers.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, recalled with emotion how he was inspired by former firefighter Terry when he first joined the FBU.
Terry's son Stephen Fields gave an emotional and determined account of what his dad believed in and how, all his life, he followed his word. Peter Taaffe, former editor of Militant, gave an inspirational address to much applause, denouncing New Labour for its betrayal of working people and its adhesion to capitalism. And Dave Nellist, a Socialist Party councillor in Coventry and former Militant-supporting MP alongside Terry Fields, recalled his time with him.
There was also a video address from Tony Mulhearn, president of Liverpool District Labour Party during the 1980s battles, who could not attend the memorial meeting due to a prior commitment.
With hundreds of new CNWP supporters and £600 raised in the collection, this important event testified that many people want another society. In these times of the 'credit crunch' and rising inequality, it is so important to rebuild the labour movement. Not with New Labour and the lapdogs of capitalism, but with a real alternative, a new workers' party. As Terry said so well: "You could despair, but as a socialist, as a Marxist, you always feel then, perhaps one day..."
Next Merseyside CNWP meeting: Thursday 18 September, 7.30pm, The Casa Club, 29 Hope Street, Liverpool.
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In The Socialist 3 September 2008:
'Them and us' economy hits the rocks
Inequality - the world's deadliest disease!
Socialist Party editorial
Russia / Georgia war exposes limits of West
Socialist Party workplace news
Trades Union Congress: Building a real leadership against the bosses
John Mc Donnell MP protests at Unison witch-hunt
London buses: Strikers pack picket lines
Fight threat to Ford Transit plant jobs
Coastguards strike over bank holiday in pay protest
Socialist Party feature
Building a new workers' party: trade unionist initiative needed
International socialist news and analysis
Poland: Biggest workers' demo since the 1990s
Socialist Party campaigns
Arrested for selling The Socialist
Winners and losers at the Beijing Olympics
Water quality threat to health
Adding colour to The Socialist
Socialist Students
School and college students fighting back!
Socialist Party review
Inside Egypt: the land of the Pharaohs on the brink of a revolution
Socialist Party NHS campaign
Swollen profits, suffering patients
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