Stan Pearce, a militant miner and dedicated Marxist, sadly passed away last week at the age of 81. We publish here two tributes from Socialist Appeal supporters – Bob Stothard from Washington and John Dunn of Justice for Mineworkers – who knew and admired Stan as an inspirational comrade.
Stan Pearce, a militant miner and dedicated Marxist, sadly passed away last week at the age of 81. We publish here two tributes from Socialist Appeal supporters – Bob Stothard from Washington and John Dunn of Justice for Mineworkers – who knew and admired Stan as an inspirational comrade.
Stan’s funeral will take place at 11.30am on Wednesday 26th March at Sunderland Crematorium, Chester Road, Sunderland.
The reception will take place afterwards at the Celtic club, Station Road, Washington.
Stan Pearce, 81, of Washington died in the same week as Bob Crow and Tony Benn. A Durham miner, who spent 44 years underground, he left us after a short illness. Stan was a marvelous man in every respect. A Marxist to the last, his insatiable appetite for knowledge made him exceptionally well-read in socialist literature, especially Trotsky, and his energy led him into limitless activism for the ‘Militant’ and the old Labour Party.
Until a matter of weeks ago Stan continued union work for the Durham Miners Association (DMA), attending labour movement schools and representing union members at industrial tribunals. He was active in the three national miners’ strikes of recent history and played a major part in recruiting good activists into the Militant Tendency. He also took a leading part in transforming the bloodless Wearmouth DMA lodge into a campaigning, fighting unit, ably led by Dave Hopper, now General Secretary of the DMA.
He was respected and admired – even loved – by all who came into contact with him. His acute political brain cut through reformist cant. Stan believed in revolution and nothing less. He despised opportunism and was first devastated then angered by the foolishness that divided Militant in 1991. Stan was a cadre par excellence.
He set an example for us all. He was warm, humourous and humble but nobody’s fool. He could be tough when the occasion demanded it. He was a family man who believed in and acted in the best working class traditions.
Unfortunately, he did not live to see the socialist transformation of society he worked so diligently for. He would want us to continue that fight; for the youth to become active, make Socialist Appeal a weekly paper, and turn the world upside down.
Let’s do for him!
Here in Durham he will never be forgotten. We have lost a great friend and sterling comrade.
Bob Stothard
I had the great pleasure of knowing Stan when, like me, he was a member of Militant, way back in the 70s.
It might seem trite to refer to a Marxist miner as a lovely man, but Stan was a truly wonderful and lovely man with a heart of gold and a will of steel. He was a fighter, a militant, proud of his heritage, his community and his union.
Hearing of his death, after attending the David Jones/Joe Green memorial, which in itself is a sombre event, was heart breaking. Coming at the end of such a sad week it was even more poignant.
A great man and a real unsung hero. He deserves to be mentioned alongside Tony Benn and Bob Crow.
My life was enriched by knowing him and is sadder without him. The Durham Gala will not seem the same without Stan, in his element and sharing his wit and knowledge. At the age of 82 he had more energy than people a quarter his age.
He leaves a loving family and loving comrades, but also a world worth fighting for. That’s what he would want us to do.
Farewell comrade.
John Dunn, Justice for Mineworkers
