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Gustavhistory [2021-09-28 03:07:01 +0000 UTC]

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linseed [2013-09-02 18:06:39 +0000 UTC]

Cheers.
Many years ago I was able to meet Bill Alexander who commanded the British Battalion of the International Brigade from 1938 and was later the Assistant General Secretary of the CPGB. I was working at the local art centre and volunteered to organize a showing of Ken Loach's Spanish Civil War film 'Land and Freedom', for the local 'University of the Third Age'.
A mate from my local union branch (for the now defunct Three Shires branch of the equally defunct GPMU print union) got me the contact details for Bill and a local veteran and I convinced the art centre to pay for their travel costs and food. Bill came down and gave a short talk on the British Volunteers and the historical context of the struggle before the film. I always remember Bill and the other veteran (whose name sadly I can no longer remember) sitting in the arts centre cafe together sharing anecdotes.

We had a complaint from one of the audience later who said that Bill's speech was, and I quote from memory "too political", which I still find hilarious.

NO PASARÁN!

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OddMod-7 [2013-08-27 00:56:30 +0000 UTC]

Great work as always! Turns out the last living Welsh international brigade member was from my home town

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