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From The Socialist newspaper, 6 October 2021
Obituary - Dave Hardaker, 1952-2021
Dave Hardaker (Click to enlarge)
Alan Docherty, Teesside Socialist Party
Comrades in the Northern Region were shocked to learn of Dave Hardaker's sudden death on Wednesday 29 September.
Dave was a long-time active Socialist Party member and supporter, joining with Militant (forerunner of the Socialist Party) in 1981. He was an active member, and was the secretary of Militant supporters in the South Durham area in the 80s and 90s.
Dave was well known as an active socialist in his home town of Newton Aycliffe, to the extent that he was targeted by members of the British National Party, attacked, badly beaten, and hospitalised in 1994. The attackers were eventually jailed. The attack did not deter Dave, but made him more determined to fight fascism and for socialism.
An active trade unionist, Dave was a branch secretary in a CPSA, and later PCS, DWP branch. Dave took early retirement from the Job Centre after a vicious campaign of victimisation against him, because he failed to meet his 'target' of suspending claimants' benefits: a battle Dave won.
Dave remained active as secretary of Spennymoor and Newton Aycliffe Trades Council; a member of the PCS ARMs regional branch, and volunteering for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where he also joined the RMT union.
Dave had an active life with many interests: chairperson of Darlington Ramblers Association; committee member of Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway; CAMRA member; volunteering for Citizens Advice. He remained a Labour Party member and was a long-standing local councillor on Great Aycliffe Town Council. Dave was also a prolific traveller and was always out and about.
On top of this, Dave remained an active socialist campaigner, still selling an average of six copies of the Socialist each week. He was always out on the streets supporting Darlington Trades Council's activities. Just days before his death, Dave delivered Martin4DGS leaflets to most schools in Newton Aycliffe, including the primary school he attended as a child.
Dave will be sadly missed by all his comrades.
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In The Socialist 6 October 2021:
What we think
Bakers' union disaffiliates from Labour
News
Sarah Everard trial reveals police abuse of power
Tories plunge millions further into poverty with Universal Credit cut
Railway bosses cook the books in another capitalist market failure
Glasgow's equal pay battle set to re-erupt
Pay NHS and care staff to address worker shortages
Workplace news
NEU: National executive agrees campaign on pay
Coordinated FE strike against measly pay offer
Unison LG members reject insulting pay offer
Unite health members say no to 3% and vote for action
Tesco warehouse rep fighting for reinstatement
Scunthorpe steel scaffolders strike for pay rise
Brighton waste workers walk out
Economy
Capitalism's economic instability in the 'new normal'
Youth Fight for Jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs - why we're marching on 9 October
Ten years since our 330-mile Jarrow March for Jobs
Campaigns news
Barking NHS: "Sorry, please try again later"
We have the right to breathe fresh air
Nottingham: Punish Labour for cruel cuts
London protest for Texas abortion rights
North West socialists join march against Tory conference
Fighting Fund target smashed - £31,703 raised
Obituary
Obituary - Dave Hardaker, 1952-2021
Review
Caffeine and capitalism - a symbiotic relationship
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2021