Harry Cowley

Harry Cowley was a Brighton born social activist.

Biography

Born in 1890, and working as a chimney sweep, he became involved in grass-roots social activism from the 1920s until his death in the 1970s.[1] He helped organise the unemployed, moved homeless families into squatted buildings after both world wars and was a key figure in confronting fascism in 1930s Brighton. He also campaigned for cheap food (becoming leader of the Barrow Boys in the 1920s and helping the founding of The Open Market following his protest known as The Battle of Oxford Street),[2] mobilised pensioners, was involved in running social events and social centres and organising practical aid for the poor and disadvantaged of the town. His actions were based in local neighbourhoods and outside political parties. When Harry died in 1971, 500 people packed Church of St Peter, Brighton, London Road, Brighton for his funeral.

Remembrance

The Cowley Club in Brighton was named after him as a sign of its aim of furthering this tradition of grass-roots organising and class solidarity. Bus operator Brighton & Hove has named a bus after Cowley.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "The Guv'nor's spirit lives on". The Argus. January 7, 2003. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
  2. ↑ "Our Patch 7". David Rowland. August 9, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Names on the buses: 826 Harry Cowley". Buses.co.uk. Brighton & Hove. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  • "Our Patch 7". Old Police Cells Museum. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
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