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A sad loss to Oxfordshire politics: Brian Hodgson

19
08
07

A sad loss to Oxfordshire politics: Brian Hodgson

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Brian Hodgson

Many words have been written about John Biffen and Bill Deedes, Tim Garden and Tony Wilson in recent days. I suspect somewhat fewer will be written about Brian Hodgson, chair of the Labour Land Campaign and former Labour group leader on Oxfordshire County Council who sadly died following a heart attack and short illness from which he had been expected to recover on Saturday 18th August. But that belies the affection with which he will be remembered by anyone who had the good fortune to know or work with him in Oxfordshire or Georgist politics.

Brian Hodgson - fair use claimed, from http://www.levellers.org.uk/ I first came across Brian when, as a City Councillor in 2001, we formed a joint group with the County Council where he was Labour opposition leader to explore ways in which we could better collaborate in support and provision for asylum seekers in Oxford. But soon learned he was a kindred spirit in Land Value Tax and in the "spirit of 1909". When I say he was unashamedly "Old Labour" I do not mean the bad old days of Militant Tendency, but of Diggers, Levellers and the spirit of the early days of Labour politics. UPDATE: Thanks Gareth for reminding me of Brian's own description as "Vintage Labour".

I have to say slightly unkindly that he always made me smile. For any familiar with the paintings in Oxford Town Hall, he always reminded me of one of the "Old Gaffers" watching proceedings in the Old Library with his somewhat 19th century style beard. But he was as kindly a man as one could wish to meet.

It was his motion to Oxfordshire County Council in 2001 that led to the council establishing a pilot project to investigate the potential effects of replacing the Council Tax with Land Value Tax and he was able to steer a coalition of Lib Dems and Greens in developing the study which has become a highly regarded contribution to the evidence in favour of LVT.

Having not been re-elected in 2005 to Oxfordshire County Council in the rout of Labour in his home area in David Cameron's Witney constituency, he put a lot of effort into the causes he had long supported - Land Value Tax and, more recently, Community Land Trusts. I last saw Brian when to my pleasant surprise he turned up to support a mutual colleague giving a talk to Woodstock Town Council in July where we are trying to build some interest in a Community Land Trust project to develop affordable local housing. He had been active already in such mechanisms as a trustee of the Stonesfield Village Trust, which in twenty or so years has provided fourteen affordable homes for local people with no subsidy - proving it can be don. We had a good long chat, with him still wondering when I was going to join the real progressive party that he had supported all his life!

I suspect Oxfordshire politics will be a more tribal arena without his conciliatory style and "elder statesmanship". Rest in peace Brian.

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Comments

Submitted by Gareth Epps (not verified) on August 20, 2007 - 09:43.

I stood against Brian in 1997 but respected him more and more over the years as a tenacious campaigner and principled man. His self-description as 'Vintage Labour' is rather more accurate than the Old Labour tag, although I'm sure he was delighted at the departure of Blair. Brian was an internationalist and heavily involved with the West Oxfordshire UNA group. He put huge efforts into trying to build the sort of social capital that creates things like Credit Unions (to name but one: we went a long way on that in West Oxfordshire and almost succeeded). Equally huge efforts went into his support of Charlton Athletic. The fact that he maintained a County Council division for 12 years that took in Heythrop Hunt country speaks volumes about the man. Had there not been boundary changes that favoured the Tories, he may well have held the seat in 2005.

Submitted by The Poet Laura-eate (not verified) on August 20, 2007 - 16:17.

I met Brian for the most fleeting of moments (after the Oxfordshire Community Land Trust talk at Woodstock town hall the other day), but he seemed a thoroughly decent salt-of-the-earth chap and I have no doubt Oxfordshire is the poorer for his loss, not to mention the loss of what he had yet to achieve. The fact that he was also evidently an internationalist and held no truck with New Labour lunacy just adds to my respect for him. He died too soon.

Submitted by Celia Wilson (not verified) on August 22, 2007 - 10:32.

I saw Brian more often in the last year than for many years (back then I used to associate him with his long, dangling, Dr. Who-like Charlton Athletic scarf). The reason? That he was one of the Labour activists who visited and kept in touch with my friend Margaret MacKenzie, who has been ill for many months. In spite of a bad leg and hip, he made the journey over to Abingdon to visit her in hospital, most recently to my knowledge for her 84th birthday party in March. Full of good humour as always, he cracked jokes and got her laughing as we have not seen for many months. When I helped to organise Oxford Faslane 365, the contribution of many Oxfordshire people to the blockade of the Faslane nuclear submarine base on the Clyde, also in March 2007, he told me that his legs would no longer allow him to sit down and demonstrate, so his contribution was to write a wonderful article on his RED Rag blog. Thank you Brian I was so sorry to hear of his death, and just one comment on his otherwise delightful obituary by Jock - in referring to his own smile as "slightly unkind" - why be unkind in an obituary, that traditional vehicle of kind comments on the departed? Rather I would encourage you to be kinder in comments on the living, than change the tradition in the opposite direction. In the cut-throat world of politics, we can do with all the kindness we can get. Maybe that way our politicians might live longer and happier lives. Goodbye, Brian and may happy memories of you stay alive in many hearts.

Submitted by Jock on August 22, 2007 - 12:32.

My only thing was that I thought it might be seen as slightly unkind to compare Brian to the "Old Gaffers" painting in Oxford Town Hall. Maybe unkind is not the rright word - humorously probably more like it. Certainly "unkind without malice".

Submitted by Dave Wetzel (not verified) on August 24, 2007 - 00:19.

From Dave Wetzel. President of the Labour Land Campaign. Vice-Chair Transport for London. Tel: 020 7126 4200 Email: davewetzel@tfl.Gov.UK Brian Hodgson: A lovely person, a talented comrade, a real socialist and a true friend. Dear Friends and Comrades, Brian was the very active Chair of our Labour Land Campaign. Brian, a true friend of socialism and the ideas of Henry George, will be sadly missed, not only because of his immense contribution to socialism and the land tax campaign but because of his humour, his honesty and also because he was a smashing bloke. It was an honour to know and work with Brian. I first met him over 20 years ago in the barn of an Oxford comrade's farm where we had a public event discussing land policy, singing folk songs and reciting poetry etc. In 2001 it was Brian's idea to conduct the Oxford land value experiment when he was a Labour Oxford County Councillor. He was helped by our Labour Land Campaign and more importantly by our Liberal Democrat and Green Party friends as well as funding from the Lincoln Institute in the USA. More recently, and on a personal note, Brian introduced me to the annual Burford celebration of the Levellers who Cromwell had executed because they refused to fight in Ireland and wanted democracy with land reform. Brian was the Labour candidate in one of the Oxford seats for Parliament and typical of Brian he remained friends with his successful Tory opponent. Brian also reintroduced me to the joys of soccer - he was a loyal Charlton supporter/season ticket holder for 60 years and in recent years we attended a few games together, enjoying a pre-match meal with club directors, including the TV mogul, Michael Grade, in their restaurant overlooking the ground. All of us in the Labour Land Campaign are going to miss Brian terribly. He had several projects on the go and was planning (with Jorgelina Lujan) a public meeting on Annual Land Value Tax in Oxford town Hall on November 20th where he had already persuaded Margaret Godden, David Magor (former Senior Planner for Oxford City Council and now the General Secretary of the IRRV), Peter Tatchell and others to speak.

Submitted by Dave Wetzel (not verified) on August 24, 2007 - 22:34.

“Let us use love and compassion. Let us use joy. Let us use knowledge.” Stafford Beer. Socialist and adviser to Allende. (Sent by Penny Thewlis – see below)

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Some of the lovely thoughts about Brian that I’ve received by e-mail from far and wide. (I have also received many telephone calls from people expressing their sadness and sharing their memories). Dave Wetzel. President of the Labour Land Campaign.

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Brian was a Labour County Councillor in Oxfordshire from 1993 to 2005. He was group leader for five years between 1998 and 2003. He proposed the Oxford Land Value Tax study, which, with support from the Vale of White Horse District Council, led to a final 40 page report in February 2005 which is widely quoted today. Copies of the report are still available – free. The study was strongly backed by the Liberal Democrats and Greens as well as the Labour group. Brian was a retired College of Further Education lecturer, who ended his 31 year career at the Oxford College of FE as Deputy Head of the Business Studies Department. He was an active trade unionist, as a member of NATFHE – now UCU, after the merger with the AUT. His first job was as a Research Executive at the Gallup Poll in London (1960-64). His other interests and campaigns include Deaf Awareness, Community Land Trusts, Age Concern and support for landmine clearance in Mozambique, Cambodia, Angola etc. Brian was a Charlton Athletic season ticket holder.

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Brian was one leg of the table of Stonesfield Community Trust, and he will be sorely missed. Brian Hodgson was a man with a real conscience. Although appalled by the betrayals of Blairism, he never wavered in his conviction that a decent society should allow all its citizens to live with dignity and sufficiency. As County Councillor, he kept to a punishing schedule, turning up without fail at Parish Council as well as higher meetings. He knew and cared about everybody in his constituency even if they didn't agree with him. He had a terrific sense of humour, which included laughing at himself, and was unfailingly honest in a way rare in politicians. A tireless campaigner for a more rational and fair system of Council tax, Brian digested huge amounts of information and material, and was always well briefed. With Brian, what you saw was what you got. His passing is a real loss to this community - and he will be missed and remembered county-wide and nationally. We hope there is someone of the next generation capable of replacing him. Tony Crofts

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This is sad news. Having only met Brian on the “6 Hats Saturday” in June,I certainly didn’t know him, but I get a sense that the words you have written are very true and from what I saw of him he did seem a genuine guy. Kind regards. Adrian Cooper. Developer and Land Value Taxer. London.

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Brian was a terrific man who not only did great things for the Labour Land Campaign, but also did a huge amount for the community in its widest possible sense. He will be greatly missed. Dr Dinos Kyrou. Professional Land Reform Group. London.

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I was devastated by the sad news about Brian, especially as I had just written to him, wishing him well, on the Saturday. I have known Brian since I joined the Labour Land Campaign five years ago. He was always full of good humour but at the same time totally dedicated to the work he was involved in to make the world a better place. He was a joy to be with and to work with. John Lipetz. Labour Land Campaigner. London.

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Dave - sorry to hear. love and blessings to all. Sounds like Brian had a very meaningful and rich life. Alanna Hartzok. Land Value Tax UN campaigner. Philadelphia. USA.

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Devastating news ... so sudden, so shocking - I only knew him from chairing our meetings - always trying - and succeeding - to be friendly and fair ... Sad, very sad ... Professor Hovanness Pilikian. Labour Land Campaigner. London.

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I am absolutely devastated to hear this news. You may remember I manage the The Place in Banbury. I met Brian at the supper club and recently we spoke together at a very successful balloon debate. He won! Although I had not known Brian long, in preparing for the balloon debate and in talking to him on many issues, I made a friend of a man who was delightful, intelligent and thoroughly straightforward and honest. Everyone here who knew him is devastated. Gemma North. Age Concern Oxfordshire, City & County. Manager - The Place. Community Development Office Cherwell.

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I am very shocked and saddened to hear this. On behalf of Lib Dem 'Georgists' I would like to add my commiserations to his family and close friends. We have all lost a truly good man and someone who has been doing so much to spread understanding of the cause we share. We will post something on the ALTER website, as the quickest way to reach our members and to also place a brief note in our ALTER newsletter. Cllr Tony Vickers. Chair, Lib Dems ALTER. (Action on Land-value Taxation & Economic Reform). Newbury.

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This is sad news indeed. I would also add in my capacity as Chair of Oxfordshire Community Land Trusts that I was pleased and surprised to see Brian on July 10th when he had come to Woodstock Town Hall to hear and support a mutual colleague talk to the Town Council about trying to get a community land trust project going in the town. Jock Coates. Oxford.

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Please add my commiserations to Brian's friends and family. I knew him through many years of Labour party meetings - he put so much energy into all the causes he believed in, including improving women's representation in parliament and local government, and the local Ramblers' Association, of which I believe he was the current president. Ann Black. Member of the Labour Party National Executive Cttee. Oxford.

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I was very shocked and very sad both personally and professionally to hear yesterday about Brian’s death. He was one of the world’s very special people – a man of deep commitment and integrity but the ability to wear them lightly, which had the effect of bringing about community rather than division. Over the last four years he has been very supportive of our work at Age Concern – in many different ways, but most particularly in the Rural Grassroots Realities Project, to which he contributed so much, with characteristic wisdom tempered by humour and with enormous energy and enthusiasm. He was hugely supportive and without him it is fair to say the project would not have been the same. I will ensure that colleagues who worked alongside him are aware. I had read on Saturday the words of another great socialist, Stafford Beer, who worked alongside Allende in Chile on a massive project to democratise the country by using IT to involve the people in the decision making processes of the nation (a project for which Brian would have had great enthusiasm). Stafford had to deal with the savage overthrow of the regime he had worked so hard with and the murder of Allende and later in the autumn of 1973 he gave the Massey Lectures on Canadian radio with the title Designing Freedom. In conclusion he had this to say: “Let us use love and compassion. Let us use joy. Let us use knowledge. These qualities are in us, obscured though we may let them be by the lethal strategies of our dinosaur society.” I was reminded of those words as I thought about Brian today. Brian will be greatly and sadly missed, though he leaves the world a better place, and much that he set in train will live on. My thoughts are with his family. Penny Thewlis, Deputy Chief Executive, Age Concern Oxfordshire City and County

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I'm extremely sorry to get this sad news out of the blue. On behalf all the members of the Professional Land Reform Group, I would like to convey our sincere condolences to Brian's family. I came to know Brian in course of his association with PLRG and was most impressed by his pleasant and helpful manners and sincerity of purpose. We will certainly miss him. Ashis Choudhury. Secretary. The Professional Land Reform Group. London.

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Sorry that you lost such a good, long time friend. I don't think I had the opportunity to meet Brian. I guess after a short well deserved break Brian will help to arrange things for us down here from up there in the heavens. Bruno Moser PhD (Econ). Land Value Taxer. Hanoi. Vietnam.

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This is sad news and a real loss to land reformers everywhere. I first came across Brian whilst at The Henry George Foundation(UK) in 2001 during the initial stages of the Oxford land value experiment. He was a real gent from the start. I last heard from him in April 2007 in an e-mail exchange during John McDonnell's campaign for leadership of the Labour Party. John McDonnell had included the following in a message...."Restore financial autonomy – replace council tax and non-domestic rates with a locally-set annual Land Value Tax. " I've always considered Brian to have played an important and crucial role in nurturing along and raising the profile of land value taxation, especially in the UK. Paul Brandon. Land Value Taxer, London Bus Driver and Trade Union Branch Chair.

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This is really sad news. I know how hard Brian worked on Land Value Tax and many other progressive causes. He will be greatly missed. Please convey my deepest sympathy to his family and friends. John McDonnell MP. House of Commons.

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Oh what a big loss for Brian's family - and for us ALL – Dave Wetzel's tribute says most of what we feel. Brian was very special - he chaired our Labour Land Campaign meetings with gentle and effective authority and fun - he was a skilled and wise organiser and researcher - and he was a clear leader and an inspiration in a challenging and important field - which hopefully with his help we will relay eventually to fruition. (We tried to comfort his 'relegation' pangs of a loyal Charlton supporter with our experience of Southampton 'going-down'). Solidarity and much SYMPATHY from Louanne and Chris Tranchell. Hammersmith. (Louanne is Vice-Chair of the LLC).

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I only got to know Brian in the last few years when, for me, he re-established the full weight of the Labour Land Campaign with his handling of the chair, exuding a deep conviction of serving a good cause. He will be much missed for it will be hard to find somebody with his warm humanity, gentle humour and not uncommon wisdom. My sincere condolences to his bereaved family. Julien Gross, Labour Land Campaigner. London.

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I only met Brian once, at the “6 Hats” workshop. However, I have nevertheless been moved by all the tributes that have been paid to Brian and, of course, am saddened by the loss of a supporter of the Georgist and Land Tax movement. John Nairn. Secretary of the Land Value Tax Campaign.

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This is very sad news indeed. Brian was, as they say in Ireland, "A lovely man" and absolutely dedicated to improving life for the less well off. Please give my condolences to his family. Kevin Cahill, Exeter. Author of Who Owns Britain?” (A book Brian was always pushing in his letters to the press).

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Sad, sad news indeed. Brian was one of the nicest politicians I have known; in fact, one of the nicest people. I am so sorry. Margaret Godden. ALTER Member and Former Lib-Dem Oxford County Councillor and County Council Deputy Leader.

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This is sad, sad news. Mary Evans-Young. Author and Former Age Concern activist, Banbury.

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Brian had so many different – though related – interests. I first got to know him when I was campaigning to re-open rights of way in Wychwood Forest. His early political life in Oxfordshire included standing twice (1968) for the feudal Cornbury division of the old Chipping Norton RDC; first against Lord Rotherwick’s (the owner’s) clerk and then at a by-election against his agent. His result – 10 votes and 1 vote respectively. The electorate was 52 – all of whom worked on the estate or were tenants of Lord Rotherwick. There was great justice in the fact that when Brian was first elected to the Oxford County Council for the Charlbury division he defeated Lord Rotherwick’s son and heir. By dint of his personality and hard work for his constituents (and, as he was the first to acknowledge, a damned good agent) Brian held Charlbury (hardly natural Labour territory) for 12 years. Eventually, Brian became Leader of the Labour Group on Oxford CC in opposition to the Con-Lib Dem majority. Brian’s different interests ranged from serving as President of the Oxfordshire Ramblers’ Association (linked of course to his concerns about land and freedom to roam) through roles in the UNA and as a school governor to campaigning against land mines. Chris Hall, Oxford.

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Brian was a principled socialist who believed in fairness, justice and peace. I knew Brian for his humour, his trademark red braces and from his timeless work for the Labour Land Campaign and marvelled at his energy, knowledge and enthusiasm for our campaign as well as for so many others. I know Brian loved and valued his family. He will be missed by so many. Heather Wetzel. Labour Land Campaign activist. Brentford. West London.

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Submitted by Dave Wetzel (not verified) on August 28, 2007 - 19:37.

Brian Hodgson's funeral: The family has confirmed the funeral: 2pm Friday 7 September, 2007. Stonesfield Parish Church, near Witney, Oxford. Donations in lieu of flowers to: Adopt-A-Minefield Kensington Charity Centre 4th Floor Charles House 375 Kensington High Street London, W14 8QH telephone: 020.7471.5581 fax: 020.7471.5582 web: http://www.landmines.org.uk

Submitted by Vivian Woodell (not verified) on September 2, 2007 - 22:27.

Brian's death was so sudden and came as a real shock. We will all miss him very much. He held strong convicitons but was never dogmatic or strident. He worked hard and tirelessly for social justice, and was a good friend of the Co-operative Movement. He will be remembered for his cheerfulness and kindness: peoples' spirits were always raised when he came into a room. He would have wanted nothing more than to inspire others to work for the things he worked for. I have no doubt that he has acheived that.

Vivian Woodell, President, The Midcounties Co-operative and Chief Executive, The Phone Co-op.