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Tony Benn Dies

 
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mark occomore



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK

PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:07 am    Post subject: Tony Benn Dies Reply with quote

One of the greatest politicians of all time Tony Benn has died at his home aged 88.
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Colin



Joined: 26 Sep 2013
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A very, very sad loss to British politics. There are few like him in mainstream politics today and we're all the losers in that respect.

I've even forgiven Mr. Benn for his role, in his capacity as Minister for Posts & Telecommunications, in the passing of the Marine (Etc) Broadcasting Offences Act, which came into force on August 14th, 1967. That's how much I admire the man.

Rest in peace, Mr. Benn.
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mark occomore



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So many politicians are scared too speak up now. Likes of Tony Benn never worried.
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childprufe



Joined: 22 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes Colin - a man of principal. He would not sell the truth to suit the hour.
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ruddlescat



Joined: 16 Sep 2010
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

As with Bob Crow a man whose political views I frequently disagreed with but a man of principle and serious conviction who was probably one of the greatest orators I've seen in my lifetime to date

The man deserves the greatest respect from all of us who take a interest in both politics and history Sad
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Colin



Joined: 26 Sep 2013
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 12:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A former BBC journalist friend of mine told me once that just prior to him commencing an interview with Mr. Benn, the great man pulled out a voice recorder from his desk and set it to record. Tony Benn looked at him and winked as he lit his trademark pipe, saying "This is so that I have record of what I said, too!". He did this with the vast majority of media interviews as a means of "keeping the buggers on their toes" and reminding them of their responsibility to maintain accuracy in their quoting of his words.

I would imagine that he was partly influenced (inspired?) by that other great Labour politician, Nye Bevan, who used to challenge the right-wing press to quote him properly after he'd delivered another of his characteristically rousing speeches. They rarely did, needless to say, and in doing so manipulated the public perception of what he had to say. I can't help thinking of Nye or Tony Benn when I see the front pages of the Daily Express or the Daily Mail today.
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becky sharp



Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Posts: 6847

PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A conviction politician... a thoroughly decent man ....and a romantic. Wink

I posted this about him on this forum 3 years ago....

"I heard on the radio the other day that Tony Benn proposed to his wife on a park bench, just nine days after meeting her....nothing unusually romantic in that perhaps but later he bought the bench from Oxford Council and installed it in the garden of their house....now that is romantic....to me, anyhow.... Very Happy

They were together for over 50 years until her death".


http://r2ok.s4.bizhat.com/r2ok-ftopic6450.html&highlight=tony+benn

R.I.P Tony Benn.



A man true to himself his whole life through!

At 88 he had a good 'innings' but it is still a sad day
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Colin



Joined: 26 Sep 2013
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hos autobiography "Dare to be a Daniel" is a very inspiring work. I didn't know that he served as a Spitfire pilot in Rhodesia during WW2 until reading it.
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Angela W



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 6:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sad news, he puts many of the current bunch of MPs in all parties to shame.
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Last edited by Angela W on Fri Mar 14, 2014 9:04 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Helen May



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very sad. I didn't always agree with his politics either but always enjoyed hearing him on various radio shows over the years. Didn't Johnnie Walker interview him last year at the Edinburgh Festival or am I imagining it?

JV played part of his last interview with him at his home last November (I'd heard it when it first went out) and he mentioned that he had proposed to his wife after 9 days as he didn't want her to go back to America and I think he mentioned the bench as well Becky.

Not many of his ilk still around are there?

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005
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Colin



Joined: 26 Sep 2013
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Helen May wrote:
Very sad. I didn't always agree with his politics either but always enjoyed hearing him on various radio shows over the years. Didn't Johnnie Walker interview him last year at the Edinburgh Festival or am I imagining it?


Yes he did, Helen. His prime motive was to come face to face with the man who - as Minister for Posts and `Telecommunications - was instrumental in sinking the pirate radio stations in 1967. I imagine it was a very gentlemanly discussion, and I'd love to have witnessed it.
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Helen May



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PostPosted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 11:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I thought that was his reasoning Colin, I'd love to have been there too!

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005
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becky sharp



Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 3:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Helen May wrote:


JV played part of his last interview with him at his home last November (I'd heard it when it first went out) and he mentioned that he had proposed to his wife after 9 days as he didn't want her to go back to America and I think he mentioned the bench as well Becky.

H


Will try to have a listen to that before it disappears ....thanks Helen.
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Helen May



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jeremy said you could hear it all somewhere on the website after that topic had ended. Had a look and this is the only place I can find anything.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01l3yp1

H

PS sorry for that glaring typo Embarassed
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005


Last edited by Helen May on Sat Mar 15, 2014 6:25 pm; edited 2 times in total
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becky sharp



Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 4:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No trawling needed to find it...thanks Helen! Smile
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oldraver



Joined: 18 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 4:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A man of principle - a rare thing in the House Of Commons these days.
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becky sharp



Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Book Of the Week this week on Radio 4...

In a change to the schedule, another chance to hear Tony Benn in his own words, reading extracts from his famous diaries, which were first broadcast in 2003.

Free at Last - The Benn Diaries 1991 to 2001

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03zrcfv
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oldraver



Joined: 18 Dec 2006
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Location: London

PostPosted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 11:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll have to catch that over the weekend, Becky - can't remember if I've heard it before...but it'll be worth hearing again, in any case.


A touching piece on the events in Parliament yesterday....

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/mar/20/tony-benn-tributes-son-hilary-commons-respect-mps-mourn
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Colin



Joined: 26 Sep 2013
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 1:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They're all downloadable. I've been listening to the late night runs on Radio 4.

Worthy of a mention is Dennis Skinner's heartfelt and passionate tribute to Tony Benn in the Commons a couple of days ago. Admirable.
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becky sharp



Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Posts: 6847

PostPosted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

oldraver wrote:
I'll have to catch that over the weekend, Becky - can't remember if I've heard it before...but it'll be worth hearing again, in any case.

Yes,Raver, it's a fascinating listen with lots of delightful anecdotes on the way. Smile

oldraver wrote:

A touching piece on the events in Parliament yesterday....


http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/mar/20/tony-benn-tributes-son-hilary-commons-respect-mps-mourn

Lovely tributes from his peers.
Colin wrote:
They're all downloadable. I've been listening to the late night runs on Radio 4.

Worthy of a mention is Dennis Skinner's heartfelt and passionate tribute to Tony Benn in the Commons a couple of days ago. Admirable.

Diane Abbott mentioned last night on This Week that her Moment on This Week was when Denis Skinner stood up in the Houses of Parliament to pay his tribute to Tony Benn. She said she thought Hilary Benn's speech was the best she had ever heard from him but the most moving speech was from Denis Skinner. She said it was a typical Skinner speech full of bombast and references to himself Laughing but underlying it he was trying to tell the house that he had loved Tony Benn.

Hearing her say that made me seek his speech out ...here it is,in full,if anyone would like a look.

http://www.leftfutures.org/2014/03/dennis-skinner-on-tony-benn/comment-page-1/
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