June passed away last week on Thursday 13 June, having only a few days earlier celebrated her 80th birthday. The evening before, she had joined us in the pub to talk politics and find out how our campaign was going, looking well and lively as ever and still very independent in thought and action.
June joined the Labour Party as a committed socialist and anti-zionist – not the easiest path to follow in recent times! Her idealism never stood in the way of campaigning for us in elections and we benefitted enormously from her brand of enthusiasm when canvassing at the doorstep.
Although June had left the party in 2022, due to her dismay at the party leadership’s rightward lurch, she remained a loyal supporter and close friend. One of her last acts last Wednesday night, was to pass me a £20 note to donate to Gareth Barrett’s general election campaign, despite her differences.
June was brought up in the East End and lived much of her life in Dagenham.
It was with her usual common sense and commitment that she crammed into my small car with four others to go knocking-up on a dark and rainy election night there in December 2019 for John Cruddas. We still claim we won it for him, as he got through that year with a majority of 293!
Her professional career in marketing was crowned with a Masters degree, which she carried lightly, unless cornered in the pub when she would come up with interesting theoretical perspectives on our campaigns with her marketing know-how and academic study. A conversation with June was never boring, but it was her passionate commitment to the Palestinian cause that marked many of our discussions in recent times.
June’s family life was marked with tragedy, but this never stopped her being generous and fun to be with, and her dramatic turn of phrase combined with a sarcastic humour will be much missed.
Richard Millwood, comrade.
Very sad news, real character and never afraid to speak her mind, RIP dear June
Fran Dapp, comrade.
I am so sad to hear this. June was an absolute legend who feared no-one. I remember canvassing with her in 2019 and turning my back for one second, she had stuck 2 fingers up to a resident who told her he was voting Tory.
You will be missed June but never forgotten
Oly Durose, comrade and our candidate in the 2019 election.
In February 2018 June, my partner Jenny and I drove up to Colchester to support the UCU picket line at the University of Essex. We spent some time with UCU comrades on the main picket, but when that was demounted we set off across the snowy wastes of Wivenhoe Park in search of a (mythical?) second picket line. We never found it!
Never a grumble from June despite the cold!
David Jobbins, comrade.
So sorry to hear this. Really liked June. A good egg.
Rhys Martin, comrade.
We liked June. she was a real Corbynista. So sad.
Tony and Jen Grimes, comrades.