I first got to know Brian through the lecturer’s union NATFHE nearly 30 years ago when we were both actively involved from different Oxfordshire colleges. From the outset he was a great friend and mentor whose formidable campaigning was always complemented by good humour and the ability to draw out and see the best in everyone. At the heart of his socialist convictions was a passion for education and its potential to liberate people in all walks of life and in all countries. Brian packed a plethora of campaigns and causes into a busy life many of which he was still pursuing with alacrity and enthusiasm right up to the end. At the centre of every one, whether parochial, national or international, was the strongest desire to pursue social justice, redress unfairness or glaring inequality and improve people’s quality of life. And every campaign was always conducted with total integrity and humanity.
As county councillors for neighbouring divisions we worked very closely together and I always received the maximum degree of encouragement and support – and true democrat that he was – independence to pursue my own campaigns and views. No one could quite match Brian’s huge network of friends at County Hall, or indeed throughout the whole county. He made a friend of everyone whilst also respecting professional boundaries. No one could match Brian’s encyclopaedic knowledge of county matters either or his extensive archive of newspaper cuttings to add many pertinent rapier thrusts into his rhetoric to disarm his critics.
Brian was a persuasive communicator filling the letters pages of local and national newspapers, making eloquent and impassioned speeches at Levellers, County Hall and conferences, canvassing the streets of Chippy with us in red rosette and Charlton Athletic scarf. He was also an effective fundraiser getting fun and enjoyment from his promise auctions, quizzes and sweepstakes – always giving of himself for other causes. Whatever he wrote and said was always genuine and heartfelt – there was never any posturing. He gained widespread respect across the political spectrum because he stuck to his principles and convictions but was, at the same time, a pragmatic and practical politician who worked tirelessly with colleagues of all persuasions to improve the welfare of his constituents and people right across Oxfordshire. His work has been tragically cut short but he has inspired many to carry forward his achievements.
Brian has been a great and faithful friend to Chippy Labour Party for as long as I have been active here. He has canvassed for all of us whenever he hasn’t had an election of his own to fight and since the sad day when the County Council lost both him and Rob as active, lively and committed councillors, he has been here at every election – out in pouring rain (‘We’ll get the sympathy vote here’ he promised), dripping on doormats till some kind person lent us another umbrella, in a slot of 30 minutes before another meeting, or last May in considerable pain from his arthritic hip but still knocking on doors and chuckling when he discovered another ‘yes’. And afterwards, on Polling Day, supping tea in the Committee Rooms as he crossed off numbers and prepared data for the Hodgson election analysis we all looked forward to.
Brian was also a stalwart at the Chippy Quiz and Chips, ready to argue the toss on some element of political history and there will be sadly an empty place at our Christmas dinner.
As County Party observor of the Labour Group meetings of OCC it was clear that he was always the pragmatic politician, always polite, always observing the rules but razor sharp in noting when to intervene and when to remind everyone of first (Socialist) principles.
Personally he was for me a great friend. Always making me feel better with words of encouragement for whatever venture was on hand. He loved his food and with Rob and sometimes other councillors, we had many very jolly meals after Group meetings – often accompanied by a little sweepstake on the outcome of a football match on behalf of Adopt-a-Minefield. He is a great loss to us all and although small and slight he will leave a huge hole in the progressive politics of Oxfordshire.
Many people will feel a real sense of loss at the death of Brian Hodgson. He stood for so much – from fairness – witness his views on property taxes as they affect the poor – to just simple friendliness and concern for individuals. His parting leaves a tangible hole.
I only saw this in leafing through last week’s Oxford Mail in a cafe yesterday and was very shocked. I only spoke to Brian a couple of months ago about Community Land Trusts, another campaign that he was energised by and enthused me about a few years ago. I think he thought I was a Blair-ite when we first met but we soon discovered much greater mutual political interests. A very sad loss and he’ll be much missed.
Brian Hodgson was a socialist in the fullest sense of the word, combining political commitment and advocacy with personal understanding and compassion — plus an unfailing humour and charm. For new arrivals in the constituency a few years ago, it was also a great tonic to meet someone who called us Comrades. His energy, enthusiasm, attention to detail, abundance of causes and above all his character set a very high standard for us all. We shall miss Comrade Brian.
I met Brian on various occasions and events (quiz and chips in chippy being among them) and was always pleasantly surprised at his vast knowledge of such diverse issues as land-mines and american cluster bombs, land value taxes and more equilibrium distribution of wealth. he always showed friendliness and concern for others and passion in what he believed and will be sadly missed.