Monday 28 December 2009

John Watler


In memoriam

John Bertram Watler was a member of Mosley’s Union Movement in the 1970s. He joined the Movement after Robert Edwards set up the Thanet group in Ramsgate during a stay in his home town in 1969. As group leader, Edwards invited Jeffrey Hamm and others to Thanet in order to launch the group officially, which included several new members from nearby Deal. John, with his wife Margaret, were to host the gathering in their Ramsgate home, with spectacular views over Pegwell Bay serving to add to the pleasure of the occasion. John and Margaret were always warm and generous hosts.
When Edwards returned to London, becoming West London Area Organiser in 1970, John took over the Thanet group, later contributing articles to UM’s paper ACTION, writing under his own name.
He was a prolific writer throughout the early 1970s, when UM was briefly re-named Action Party. He was reported in ACTION No 169 (March, 1974) as “getting ‘Action’ into his local library at Ramsgate”. Thereon, he continued to organise members’ and contacts’ meetings.
John Watler died suddenly on November 18th, 2009, aged 82 years.
A ‘Celebration of his Life’ took place at Thanet Crematorium on Monday, December 7th, 2009.
He leaves a wife, son John and grandson Jonathan.

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