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Bill Thornycroft obituary Bill Thornycroft obituary
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After being sacked from several engineering jobs because of his membership of the Communist party, from 1953 onwards my friend Bill Thornycroft, who has died aged 90, dedicated himself to working for organisations affiliated affilitated to the party: Collet’s bookshop, Central Books and Progressive Tours. Later he ran a grocery shop and made a living as an electrician. After being sacked from several engineering jobs because of his membership of the Communist party, from 1953 onwards my friend Bill Thornycroft, who has died aged 90, dedicated himself to working for organisations affilitated to the party: Collet’s bookshop, Central Books and Progressive Tours. Later he ran a grocery shop and made a living as an electrician.
In the 1970s he joined the picket line at Grunwick, the film-processing factory in north-west London where mostly Asian female workers were on strike for the right to belong to a trade union. He was arrested by the Met’s Special Patrol Group and spent the night in a police cell. He opposed racist and fascist organisations, and protested against the National Front’s march in Lewisham in 1977 during which participants were pelted with bricks, concrete blocks and stones. He became a member of the Stop the War movement after the invasion of Iraq in 2003.In the 1970s he joined the picket line at Grunwick, the film-processing factory in north-west London where mostly Asian female workers were on strike for the right to belong to a trade union. He was arrested by the Met’s Special Patrol Group and spent the night in a police cell. He opposed racist and fascist organisations, and protested against the National Front’s march in Lewisham in 1977 during which participants were pelted with bricks, concrete blocks and stones. He became a member of the Stop the War movement after the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Bill participated in the gay liberation movement of the early 70s and got involved in organising discos and benefits. He was a prolific writer of letters to the press defending the right to equality. During his time with Icebreakers, a radical gay counselling group, he encouraged people to shed their fears and come out loud and proud.Bill participated in the gay liberation movement of the early 70s and got involved in organising discos and benefits. He was a prolific writer of letters to the press defending the right to equality. During his time with Icebreakers, a radical gay counselling group, he encouraged people to shed their fears and come out loud and proud.
He was born in Lancing, West Sussex. His father, Oliver, was a mechanical engineer with the Admiralty, and his mother, Dorothy, a political activist involved in votes for women and sheltering child refugees escaping from the Spanish civil war. Bill went to Worthing high school for boys, then Bedales in Hampshire. He left school at the age of 17 and trained at the Chelsea College of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering.He was born in Lancing, West Sussex. His father, Oliver, was a mechanical engineer with the Admiralty, and his mother, Dorothy, a political activist involved in votes for women and sheltering child refugees escaping from the Spanish civil war. Bill went to Worthing high school for boys, then Bedales in Hampshire. He left school at the age of 17 and trained at the Chelsea College of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering.
In 1974 Bill threw himself enthusiastically into squatting in an empty shop to create the first gay community centre in Brixton, south London. This coincided with the October general election, and Bill’s van was put to good use supporting Malcolm Greatbanks as the first gay liberation candidate, standing in nearby Norwood.In 1974 Bill threw himself enthusiastically into squatting in an empty shop to create the first gay community centre in Brixton, south London. This coincided with the October general election, and Bill’s van was put to good use supporting Malcolm Greatbanks as the first gay liberation candidate, standing in nearby Norwood.
Bill never failed to attend LGBT Pride events. His family begged him to hide his badges when he was alone in case he was attacked, but typically Bill refused. He also took part in the productions of the Brixton Faeries, a radical gay theatre group. The plays covered subjects such as cottaging and the Jeremy Thorpe trial.Bill never failed to attend LGBT Pride events. His family begged him to hide his badges when he was alone in case he was attacked, but typically Bill refused. He also took part in the productions of the Brixton Faeries, a radical gay theatre group. The plays covered subjects such as cottaging and the Jeremy Thorpe trial.
With the onset of Aids in the 80s, many from the Brixton gay community died. Bill was always there to offer help and comfort in dark days when there seemed no prospect of a cure.With the onset of Aids in the 80s, many from the Brixton gay community died. Bill was always there to offer help and comfort in dark days when there seemed no prospect of a cure.
The two great loves of Bill’s life, Fred Greengrass, who helped him run the grocer’s shop, and Dennis Odd, a storeman for Lucas motor parts, both predeceased him.The two great loves of Bill’s life, Fred Greengrass, who helped him run the grocer’s shop, and Dennis Odd, a storeman for Lucas motor parts, both predeceased him.
He is survived by his sister, Priscilla.He is survived by his sister, Priscilla.