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Angela Sinclair-Loutit obituary Angela Sinclair-Loutit obituary
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My friend Angela Sinclair-Loutit, who has died aged 95, was a colourful figure in leftwing circles in London. Into old age she could be found demonstrating against the closure of hospital services, at the Socialist Film Club, sorting out book sales for the Morning Star, marching against Trident or demonstrating at armaments fairs.My friend Angela Sinclair-Loutit, who has died aged 95, was a colourful figure in leftwing circles in London. Into old age she could be found demonstrating against the closure of hospital services, at the Socialist Film Club, sorting out book sales for the Morning Star, marching against Trident or demonstrating at armaments fairs.
Bird-thin with spiky hair, she always had a twinkle in her eyes. She wore secondhand clothes from charity shops and was proud of it. She was often hunched over her computer until 3am, smoking and writing articles or letters of protest, occasionally sipping a glass of wine. Calling herself an “aggressive pacifist”, she was a long-time member both of CND and of the Labour party, and was a friend of her local MP, Jeremy Corbyn.Bird-thin with spiky hair, she always had a twinkle in her eyes. She wore secondhand clothes from charity shops and was proud of it. She was often hunched over her computer until 3am, smoking and writing articles or letters of protest, occasionally sipping a glass of wine. Calling herself an “aggressive pacifist”, she was a long-time member both of CND and of the Labour party, and was a friend of her local MP, Jeremy Corbyn.
The stubborn woman I knew in her 80s and 90s had a more glamorous background than I could have imagined. Born in Kensington, London, to ​Edward de Renzy-Martin, a lieutenant colonel in the army, and his wife, Winifred (nee Hull), Angela was raised in Hampshire, and after attending Downe House boarding school near Newbury, Berkshire, was among one of the early intakes of women students at Oxford University. The stubborn woman I knew in her 80s and 90s had a more glamorous background than I could have imagined. Born in Kensington, London, to Edward de Renzy-Martin, a lieutenant colonel in the army, and his wife, Winifred (nee Hull), Angela was raised in Hampshire, and after attending Downe House boarding school near Newbury, Berkshire, was among one of the early intakes of women students at Oxford University.
Already a determined pacifist, she became a conscientious objector when the second world war broke out and left university to sign up with the Friends Ambulance Unit, with which she helped to reunite dispersed families, trained as a nurse under Lady (Louis) Mountbatten and volunteered to work with Slav refugees in camps in Egypt, where she taught herself Serbo-Croat. She then drove a truck, which she had learned to service herself, through Yugoslavia, delivering medical equipment. Already a determined pacifist, she became a conscientious objector when the second world war broke out and left university to sign up with the Friends Ambulance Unit, with which she helped to reunite dispersed families, trained as a nurse under Edwina Mountbatten and volunteered to work with Slav refugees in camps in Egypt, where she taught herself Serbo-Croat. She then drove a truck, which she had learned to service herself, through Yugoslavia, delivering medical equipment.
In Egypt she met Kenneth Sinclair-Loutit, a doctor. They married in 1946 and after the war moved to London, where Kenneth set up the Finsbury health centre. Thereafter, as Kenneth took on jobs of increasing importance with the World Health Organisation and eventually Unicef, they lived in Canada, France, Thailand and Morocco, all of which contributed to consolidating Angela’s great free spirit, full of empathy for the different peoples of the world. During this time of peregrinations, she did voluntary work as well as raising her children, and in Morocco ran nursing services and first aid from home. In Egypt she met Kenneth Sinclair-Loutit, a doctor. They married in 1946 and after the war moved to London, where Kenneth set up the Finsbury health centre. Thereafter, as Kenneth took on jobs of increasing importance with the World Health Organisation and as an adviser to Unicef, they lived in Canada, France, Thailand and Morocco, all of which contributed to consolidating Angela’s great free spirit, full of empathy for the different peoples of the world. During this time of peregrinations, she did voluntary work as well as raising her children, and in Morocco ran nursing services and first aid from home.
In 1972 she returned to London with their three teenaged children, but Kenneth decided not to return, and divorce ensued. Angela trained as a psychiatric social worker and settled in Islington, north London, where, in retirement, she wrote for the Islington Gazette and the socialist newspaper Tribune, was secretary of the Islington Pensioners Forum, and campaigned against closure of the local Whittington hospital A&E department. She was also part of a team of activists that helped to save Gillespie Park in Highbury. In 1972 she returned to London with their three teenaged children, but Kenneth decided not to return. Angela trained as a psychiatric social worker and settled in Islington, north London, where, in retirement, she wrote for the Islington Gazette and the socialist newspaper Tribune, was secretary of the Islington Pensioners Forum, and campaigned against closure of the local Whittington hospital A&E department. She was also part of a team of activists that helped to save Gillespie Park in Highbury.
In her 90s she became progressively more deaf and found it difficult to accept the infirmities of old age, although a procession of grandchildren, young relatives and friends paraded through her house to provide her with help and stimulation. Angela was bright and incisive to the end, up to date with world affairs and political developments. For each of us she had an ear, genuine interest in our lives, and a wry comment or two.In her 90s she became progressively more deaf and found it difficult to accept the infirmities of old age, although a procession of grandchildren, young relatives and friends paraded through her house to provide her with help and stimulation. Angela was bright and incisive to the end, up to date with world affairs and political developments. For each of us she had an ear, genuine interest in our lives, and a wry comment or two.
She is survived by her children, David, Stephan and Jessica, and by seven grandchildren.She is survived by her children, David, Stephan and Jessica, and by seven grandchildren.