To add your tribute, please email: events@veganorganic.net
Click here to read David’s obituary in the Guardian
David, I know that St. Pete sent you back last time but my concern is that I may leave things unsaid before your next visit. Your passing words were “we will meet again”. If you feel up to it, I would like this to be a visit to Manchester rather than other realms.
It is really important to me, to let you know what a difference you have made in my life over the last 25 years. Selflessly you have been there for me in every way and capacity that I could ever need. There is hardly words that I can put down to express how grateful I am. To me you are my friend (4 decades my senior) my second father, mentor and above all someone who always knows how to help me solve some of my life challenges. Above all, you helped me to see the light in the darkness and guide me on the right path at crossroads (Sounds like I am describing a second JC, hope that isn’t blasphemy, lol).
The stoics say that we should recognise our mortality “memento mori”, which applies to all of us not just when we are challenged by senior years or health. So it would be irresponsible and perhaps I would even feel regret if I did not share these thoughts with you now. You have been there in every chapter of my life that mattered the most and not only am I grateful but I am proud to be able to tell you how much I love you.
But it isn’t only me that you have made a significant contribution to. Your life is an example to everyone. There are hundreds or even thousands of people and animals that you brought joy, love and light to. The only problem with that is you might have pissed off St. Pete even more by outdoing him, lol. I really hope that this isn’t a conversation you have with St. Peter any time soon. But of anyone I can think of on this planet, there is nobody that lives up to the claim better than “a life well-lived” (accept Jane, of course, but that’s why you had the intelligence to marry her so quickly :-))
You are truly an inspiration.
All my Love
David Mather
xxx
A Memory of David Graham
I probably first met David at a soup run for Manchester’s rough sleepers, or at the Free Speech/ Speakers’ Corner protest in Piccadilly around 1971. CRAG, the community research and action group of which he was founder and leading light, was involved along with the student body from the University and others in the ‘Speakers’ corner’ campaign that year. As is clear from the biographical picture of David’s life, described by his devoted wife Jane ( https://veganorganic.net/author/dan/ ), by the early 1970s when he founded CRAG, David was a hardened activist. His CV included a year in prison arising from his conscientious objection to national service or its substitutes. I’m not sure how many of the rest of us would have taken our peacetime principles to the limit that landed David with a twelve months’ stay inside.
CRAG under David’s leadership was active in tenants’ defence, and the defence of the unemployed, of claimants, gypsies and other marginalized groups. On an occasion when answering an impromptu CRAG ‘call to defend’, I attended an eviction of gypsy (traveller) caravans from a bombed-out site in Salford. I found that the gypsies were all from Ireland, as were the Corporation workers sent to move the caravans off, and the policeman sent to monitor the situation, and (obviously) at least one of the CRAG interveners. David would have enjoyed the irony of the all-Ireland chat that followed: he had a natural sense of humour that would break into the most serious of situations.
Yet fundamentally politics was a serious affair for David and neither he nor Jane were afraid to put their resources where their mouths were. Operation Omega to Bangladesh received strong support from 58 High Lane in the 1970s, the miners’ flying pickets were sheltered there in the 1980s and the international Vegan Organic Network had its origins there in the 1990s. There was continuity and an idealism about David’s politics across the decades, when some of us fell back on a more middle-class ‘realism’.
David had a way of working whatever system he found himself in, and I had reason to be grateful for his flair. Although he joked repeatedly about the amount of Applied Statistics I was able force-feed into him which ‘got him through’ one of his degree exams, I had more reason to remember what he did for me. When I decided to return to Ireland in the later 1970s David arranged for me to give a seminar on Northern Ireland to an audience of Swedish trades unionists visiting Manchester University. For this I was paid £20. With this richness tucked into a safe corner of my trousers, and with a suitcase of books and clothes, and a slipped disk, I landed on the quay at Dunlaoire port: after eight years seeking fortune abroad the only way was up.
David never let me forget that I was from Ireland, usually by repeating with a laugh some way that I used the English language. He was always a great host to my children and me when we called, and the kids remember fondly his and Jane’s outdoor vegan spreads in the company of squirrels in the garden at High Lane.
Mike Brennan.
3 Oakley Lawn,
Earls Court,
Waterford. X91 YPY2
Ireland.
4 May2023
Hi Susan
So very sorry to hear of the sad news about your dad.
You would have been in your early teens when I lived as a student in your house. The year I spent there had a big influence on my life – becoming a vegetarian, how your mum & dad related to children & young people & most importantly speaking up for & taking action to defend those things you believe in. Your family must have inspired alot of people over the years!
Please pass on our condolences to Jane & the rest of your family.
Thanks for taking the time to let us know.
Love Betty & Andy
x
Dear Jane, Dan, and other members of David’s family,
I am deeply sorry for your loss but also truly grateful for having known David.
I have known David for a few years only but it was enough to get an understanding of the amazing life he must have had. We met in ~2017/2018 through my research on vegan organic agriculture during my PhD. Curiously, I got to know that my office at Waterloo Place, where I was writing my thesis in sociology, belonged to the same building where David and Jane had run a vegetarian café in the 1970s, when David had himself been a student in sociology! In some ways this is just a trivial coincidence, but space and time overlap in curious ways. Life holds a lot of experiences that may deeply move us, and their effects ripple forth over the course of our lifetimes and sometimes beyond (in other people).
One of these experiences that must have been truly important to David are the facts about the Haber-Bosch process which he told me about on a few occasions. I do not want to go into detail here, yet this – true – story about a Jewish chemist and Nobel prize winner, Fritz Haber, who developed both chemical weapons during WWI and the basis for pesticide and synthetic fertiliser production for chemical farming deserves to be told. Sadly and ironically, after Haber’s death, Nazi Germany used the chemicals he developed to commit unfathomable crimes – and basically the same chemicals are still used in farming today, destroying ecosystems and undermining the very conditions for our existence. I am writing this not to tell shocking stories but because I know how important it was to David that this particular story, and the interconnections between violence to humans, animals, and the natural environment, are not forgotten. I got to know David as a man with an exceptional sense for justice, kindness to all beings, fascination for intellectual conundrums, and the right kind of political attitudes (i.e. leftist ones!).
Despite his political activism and concerns over the horrors of the world, he maintained a great sense of humour, telling jovial, adorably silly jokes and anecdotes. For the person he was, intellectually and emotionally, David will always have a place in my heart, and I am grateful for the time we shared and the impact he had on my life.
Peace and love,
Steffen
Denise and John Berry – farmers in Sussex
Us vegans have lost a great visionary who has worked so hard to bring about a caring world. It is so sad we have lost such a marvellous man. We are so glad to have known him but the world needs more people like him. RIP David
Louise, Aimee, Daisy, Molly and Jude Sutton – Free Schooling
David was one of the loveliest people I ever met, with a brilliant sense of humour. Even now all adults, all my children have such memories at time spent with you and David on many a sunny afternoon.
Mike and Jo
It was always lovely to see David – always smiley, always interesting!
Erika Van Noort – Niece,
He is someone I always remember as smiling, happy and a fabulous story teller. I loved the time you and he spent with my Dad before he passed. Even in sad moments David and Keith could always have a laugh.
Helen and John Read – Friends and workers with VON
David sent out many messages to many people during the course of a long life. He will have ‘pollinated’ many minds, sowed seeds and left us all with a legacy of positive and progressive ideas. Much of his legacy resides in VON. This long and fruitful life, not without it’s challenging times, but influential, often inspiring, positive and well lived to the end. David leaves behind him many good memories and examples for us all to treasure, recall and continue to reflect on from time to time as the years pass by. A committed, determined yet kindly soul, with an open heart and mind, hospitable and welcoming to so many people. A unique person an a true ‘original’, always good company too. Now all his life’s journeys are completed David richly deserves his final place of peace.
Tony and Kathleen – Friends and shared political thinking.
So I guess I do not get to “Man the barricades” with David as he once hoped. What remains in my mind is the presence of a very genuine and sincere person, who supported me over the years, who personified the real spirit of Manchester.
Kathleen: Our world is at a great loss without David. He inspired and motivated so many people including me . I will miss his presence on earth very much.
Mike Brennan – Friend of 55 years and participant in many projects
“His like will not be here again”.
Stephanie Newton – Grand-daughter
I have so many wonderful memories of you and Grandad. Everyone of them so special. I am so proud to have had Grandad in my life. He was such a positive inspiration to me and many others. I will miss talking to him. Since I was born both of you have been so involved in creating happy memories: The Lake District, cooking together, family parties, Hunnakah parties, VON, happy times in the garden, benefits for good causes, interesting conversations about the Bosnian war and what to do to help, playing card games, charades, visiting secret lakes and having lots of fun together. Grandad was very happy in his life with you and our family.
Malcolm Horne – VON member and worker.
Remembering David fondly – his good work for VON and beyond, and his kindness and of course his sense of humour!
Jessica Wintrip – VON membership secretary
David was a wonderful human being who made a difference. His compassion and sense of humour were at the forefront of what he did. His legacy lives on in those he encouraged and inspired. – it was a long life well lived.
Colin Archer – Activist
I do remember David in various ‘contexts’: CRAG meetings (early 70’s) at High Lane; The Grape Vine Cafe at Waterloo Place; ‘neighbourly’ chats – including about Oxfam in India – when I lived next door at 56; and discussions (with Bob Opp) about Jewish history/holocaust. Then there was VON. David was a thinker as well as a doer. I always appreciated that. He also had leadership qualities, something every movement needs.
Paul Okoji – Friend
Now David has joined his ancestors. He was a good, kind and caring man with an unwavering commitment to social justice. We have lost a wonderful man.
Simon Chung – Part of the family
May his beautiful soul transcend in Peace and the light and Joy he Gave be always Present.
