Celebrating the Life of Gilbert Constantine Clarke - RAF World War 2 Veteran/Windrush Pioneer/Musician/Community Elder

 

On Saturday morning I attended the funeral service for Mr Clarke in the main chamber of East Ham Town Hall. The chamber was full to the doors — a testament to the love, respect and gratitude felt for a man whose generation helped save Britain from defeat in the Second World War.

The RAF did him proud. Air Commodore Alun Roberts delivered a formal Military Tribute, supported by a bearer party of RAF Regiment airmen who carried themselves with impeccable discipline and respect. The service itself was beautifully organised by Mr Clarke’s family and friends, alongside RAFA, BWIRHT, the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, the Caribbean Social Forum and the RAF Benevolent Fund. Their collective effort created a ceremony worthy of his life and legacy. The Rev Dr Michael King conducted the service with grace and solemnity.

I attended as the representative of the Newham Mayor, Forhad Hussain, and was seated next to the Jamaican High Commissioner, H.E. Alexander Williams — a reminder of the deep Commonwealth ties that shaped the wartime generation. Men and women from across what is now the Commonwealth travelled thousands of miles to defend Britain from Nazi tyranny. Mr Clarke stood among those heroes.

It was an honour to honour him. His generation — steadfast, courageous, and united across continents — helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today. We must never forget their sacrifice.

Nicholas Russell 1968-2014 Labour Movement & Disability Activist

I was shocked to hear of the sudden death at age 45 of Labour movement and disability rights activist Nicholas Russell.

Nick was a former member of UNISON London Labour Link committee, Chair of SERTUC disabled workers network and was also a Councillor in Waltham Forest.

I think it is fair to say that every single meeting I ever went to with Nick, he would champion the rights of the disabled.

He was the grandson of Philosopher and Nobel Prize winner, Bernard Russell, and was like him, also a strong supporter of CND. He once described to me this support as "the family tradition".

My condolences to his fiancee Georgina, his family and close friends. His brother John and sister-in-law, Jane have posted a tribute to Nick here and have invited all those who knew or worked with him to the funeral at the North Chapel, City of London Cemetery, Alderbrook Road, E12 at 3.15pm Thursday 4 September.

(picture of Nick running the Co-operative Party stall, London Labour Party Biannual Conference, Old Town Hall Stratford, 2010)