These articles mark the passing of labour historians, many of whom have played a significant part in the Society for the Study of Labour History.
Richard Croucher, who died aged 73 on 16 December 2022, was a versatile scholar and talented labour historian who became well-known as a teacher and researcher in the field of employment relations and management studies. He played a prominent part in the field of labour history from the mid-1970s into the 1990s. His books Engineers at War and We Refuse to Starve in Silence constituted … Continue reading Richard Croucher (1949 – 2022)
Authors: Keith Laybourn, Emmet O’Connor, Mike Mecham These are the introductions to a series of appreciations published in Labour History Review (2022), 87, (3), 313-322. Keith Laybourn writes: John Halstead is one of those rare individuals genuinely committed to the development of working-class citizenship through the extension of educational opportunities. This is reflected in his support for the active involvement of working-class adults in their … Continue reading John L. Halstead (1936–2021): Some Comments and Reflections
Stephen Roberts, who has died aged 64, was a political, social and cultural historian of Victorian Britain whose focus over more than four decades was on Chartism and the city of Birmingham, two topics on which he was both expert and passionate. Stephen was born in Sutton Coldfield, and his commitment to and fascination with his home town was life long. He first encountered Chartism … Continue reading Stephen Frederick Roberts (1958-2022)
Peter Beilharz and Sian Supski pay tribute to the Australian labour historian Stuart Macintyre Continue reading Tribute: an Australian perspective on Stuart Macintyre
Professor Kevin Morgan pays tribute to the work of the leading Australian historian Stuart Macintyre Continue reading Tribute: a British perspective on Stuart Macintyre
We are sorry to hear that the eminent Australian socialist and labour historian Stuart Macintyre has died aged 74. Professor Macintyre published extensively on the history of Australia and the Australian Left, and as co-author of The History Wars (2003) provided the leading academic challenge to conservative narratives of the country’s history. For many, however, his greatest work is his account of the emergence of … Continue reading Stuart Macintyre 1947 – 2021
John Halstead, who has died aged 85, was among the earliest members of the Society for the Study of Labour History, and over a period of six decades occupied nearly every post within the Society, contributing his time and expertise unstintingly to serve as editor, chair, secretary and latterly vice-president. Born in Huddersfield, and educated at Highburton Church of England elementary school and Penistone Grammar … Continue reading John L Halstead (1936-2021)
This week would have see the 75th birthday of Hywel Francis, President of Llafur from 2018 until his death in February. He was one of the founders of Llafur and its driving force whose vision ensured that the Welsh Labour History Society did not become a small gathering of academics but a vibrant gathering of ‘people’s remembrancers’. Continue reading Hywel Francis (1946 – 2021)
Archie Potts, who was one of the founding members of the North East Labour History Society in 1966, has died after a short illness. His long life was marked by a lasting commitment to his community, to working class politics and to the field of labour history. Archie was born in Sunderland on 27 January 1932. His family were hard working, proud trade unionists. In … Continue reading Archie Potts (1932 – 2021)
Nigel Todd who died suddenly last week will be sadly missed by his many friends in labour history circles as well as mourned by his close family and friends. Nigel was a veteran Labour councillor who served the city of Newcastle upon Tyne from 1980 onwards but he was also so much more: an anti-fascism activist, a stalwart supporter of the Co-operative Movement, a well … Continue reading Nigel Todd (1947-2021)
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