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| Hetty Bower obituary | Hetty Bower obituary |
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| Few people remember how an early event shaped them. Hetty Bower, who has died aged 108, did. A finger-wagging attempt by an older brother to browbeat the two-year-old Hetty developed in her a commitment to social justice, democracy and peace. It also left her with a tendency to wag her finger. | Few people remember how an early event shaped them. Hetty Bower, who has died aged 108, did. A finger-wagging attempt by an older brother to browbeat the two-year-old Hetty developed in her a commitment to social justice, democracy and peace. It also left her with a tendency to wag her finger. |
| Born Esther Rimel in Dalston, north-east London, she became an implacable opponent of war at the age of nine, when she saw the injuries of the returning veterans of the first world war. In 1926, she and her sister Anita sneaked away overnight to feed locked-out miners. Her sister Cis, a suffragette, took Hetty to concerts and taught her about politics. Hetty and Anita joined the Association of Women Clerks and Secretaries, the first union for women. | |
| Hetty joined the Labour party aged 17 and met Reg Bower while collecting dues from new members. They married in 1932 and that year joined the Independent Labour party, later leaving for the Communist party. After the Blair and Brown era, Hetty rejoined Labour. | Hetty joined the Labour party aged 17 and met Reg Bower while collecting dues from new members. They married in 1932 and that year joined the Independent Labour party, later leaving for the Communist party. After the Blair and Brown era, Hetty rejoined Labour. |
| In the 1920s and 30s, Hetty and Reg travelled in Europe, attending the Workers' Olympiad in Vienna and camping with peace activists. She was a life member of the Youth Hostels Association; at the age of 104, she stayed at Bridges hostel in Shropshire while on a "training" walk for her Hertfordshire hike to raise money for Oxfam. | In the 1920s and 30s, Hetty and Reg travelled in Europe, attending the Workers' Olympiad in Vienna and camping with peace activists. She was a life member of the Youth Hostels Association; at the age of 104, she stayed at Bridges hostel in Shropshire while on a "training" walk for her Hertfordshire hike to raise money for Oxfam. |
| During the second world war, Hetty ran a hostel in East Finchley, north London, for Czech refugees. She was a secretary at what became Bishopswood school, in Hornsey, where her daughter Margie later taught. | During the second world war, Hetty ran a hostel in East Finchley, north London, for Czech refugees. She was a secretary at what became Bishopswood school, in Hornsey, where her daughter Margie later taught. |
| Her public speaking began in 2008 when she addressed the Hiroshima Day commemoration in Tavistock Square, London, aged 102, full of nerves, though no listener could have guessed. Impressively clear and concise, she was invited to speak to schools and universities and at rallies. Hetty was widely interviewed by the media, and continued to march and demonstrate – for peace and the NHS, against war and cuts. Her voice, affectionately likened to a foghorn – poor hearing meant she was unaware how loudly she spoke – sometimes gave the impression of sternness, but Hetty loved to laugh. She moved from a supporting role to being a keynote speaker. | Her public speaking began in 2008 when she addressed the Hiroshima Day commemoration in Tavistock Square, London, aged 102, full of nerves, though no listener could have guessed. Impressively clear and concise, she was invited to speak to schools and universities and at rallies. Hetty was widely interviewed by the media, and continued to march and demonstrate – for peace and the NHS, against war and cuts. Her voice, affectionately likened to a foghorn – poor hearing meant she was unaware how loudly she spoke – sometimes gave the impression of sternness, but Hetty loved to laugh. She moved from a supporting role to being a keynote speaker. |
| Hetty went on every march against the Iraq war, her daughters Margie and Celia accompanying her as they had since the early Aldermaston days. She marched against the proposed closure of the A&E unit at the Whittington hospital in north London, where Margie had been born. | Hetty went on every march against the Iraq war, her daughters Margie and Celia accompanying her as they had since the early Aldermaston days. She marched against the proposed closure of the A&E unit at the Whittington hospital in north London, where Margie had been born. |
| Hetty inspired listeners at the Labour party conference this year to continue to protest, saying: "We may not win, but if we do not protest we will lose." She gave the same message to the mainly Muslim children of an East End secondary school who staged a musical about the Battle of Cable Street last year, telling them: "Now it's up to your generation to stand against fascism and racism." | Hetty inspired listeners at the Labour party conference this year to continue to protest, saying: "We may not win, but if we do not protest we will lose." She gave the same message to the mainly Muslim children of an East End secondary school who staged a musical about the Battle of Cable Street last year, telling them: "Now it's up to your generation to stand against fascism and racism." |
| Hetty had a stroke as she was about to leave home to speak at a primary school. Having sung the old CND standard The H-Bomb's Thunder in the hospital, she spoke its refrain, accompanied by her wagging finger: "Ban the bomb, for ever more." | Hetty had a stroke as she was about to leave home to speak at a primary school. Having sung the old CND standard The H-Bomb's Thunder in the hospital, she spoke its refrain, accompanied by her wagging finger: "Ban the bomb, for ever more." |
| Reg died in 2001. Hetty is survived by Celia and Margie, two grandsons, Iain and Richard, and two great-grandsons, Sidney and George. | Reg died in 2001. Hetty is survived by Celia and Margie, two grandsons, Iain and Richard, and two great-grandsons, Sidney and George. |
| • This article was updated on 3 December 2013. The original stated that the Association of Women Clerks and Secretaries eventually became Unison. This has been corrected. | |
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