Larry Cotton obituary

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/01/larry-cotton-obituary

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My dad, Larry Cotton, who has died aged 85, was a socialist and trade unionist, and in his spare time an enthusiastic scuba diver, dancer, film buff and Spurs fan.

Larry, an only child, was born in Hoxton, east London, to nonconformist parents, Nan, a seamstress, and Bert, a tailor. Socialism was bred in the bone, but as a child he developed three other passions that were to last his lifetime: football, films and water. He attended his first Spurs match aged seven with his dad and his first films with his beloved Auntie Vi. He left school at 14, working before national service with the Royal Navy, where he learned to scuba dive.

He met his first love, Joan Monnington, at a dance in 1951, and they were married within the year. After the navy Larry joined London Transport as an electrician, where he overcame his lack of formal education through trade union activism, which gave him opportunities for training and development. He and Joan had three children, and we campaigned as a family with Hornsey Labour party throughout the 70s, alongside a young Jeremy Corbyn.

Larry was devastated when that marriage ended, but threw himself into politics with renewed vigour. Increasingly active in the NUR (the National Union of Railwaymen), he fought against apartheid and supported the Grunwick, Wapping and miners’ strikes. He sat on the NUR national executive from 1989 to 1991 and was labelled a “mindless militant” by sections of the press while battling for improved conditions for transport workers, together with his friends Geoff Revell, Alan Norman and Bob Crow.

Around this time, Geoff introduced him to Liz Howe. Larry soon moved to Gravesend to live with her and her two sons. For 20 years, Larry and Liz lived a charmed life together, pursuing individual and joint interests, and finally marrying in 2004. The following year, Larry and Geoff organised the RMT union’s Rail Against Privatisation march from Glasgow to London. This was Larry’s last big political act before a catastrophic stroke left him paralysed.

Despite his considerable care needs, Larry continued to dive, supported by the charity Dive Ability, until he was 82. He also attended most Spurs home matches, his last an incredible 77 years after the first. However, successive infections weakened him and his final year was one of sadness, punctuated by family visits and his favourite films. Geoff and Big Al continued to be a great support to Dad.

On 19 July, he cheered his old comrade Jeremy on the Sunday Politics Show and watched West Side Story for the last time.

Larry is survived by Liz, his five children, Richard, Cindy, Toks, Amechi and me, and nine grandchildren.