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Gladys Marie
Catt 1918-2008
Marie joined the SPGB in the spring of 1941. The outbreak of war had
profoundly disturbed her, along with her family and friends. Her two
brothers and her future husband had become conscientious objectors and
she became engaged in their struggles to win conscientious objector
status. Marie was persuaded about the necessity of socialism partly by
the Party's stand against working-class participation in the war, but
also by the forcefulness and clarity of the Party's speakers at the
outdoor meetings held at Lincoln's Inn Fields and she joined the
Palmers Green Branch where she met Sid Catt, her future husband.
In 1957, she, Sid and daughter Jean emigrated to Canada and settled in
Toronto. After settling in, they became a contact and propaganda centre
for the Socialist Party of Canada. They set about recruiting members,
holding discussion forums in their home and speaking at Allen Gardens.
By 1964 they had organized the first Party Local east of Winnipeg.
Marie continued her activities for many years. She always spoke
forthrightly and passionately in favour of socialism in whatever
circumstances she found herself. Her grasp of the meaning of the Object
and Declaration of Principles was thorough. She once wrote of the
significance of these Principles to members of the Party:
"These have remained the sheet anchor for their understanding, proved
the strength of their case and their integrity, making it impossible to
confuse them with any reformist organization This Object and
Declaration of Principles are as valid today as they were at the time
of the inception in 1904 of this unique political party."
B.S. (Canada)
Jean Higdon
1934-2007
Jean’s secular send-off was attended by fifty of her family, friends
and party members.
Of those who were invited to speak on Jean’s life were her son, Jon,
who spoke of Jean’s dedication as a mother; Mike Lee, Chairman of the
Auckland Regional Local Bodies’ Council, who briefly outlined Jean’s
socialist thinking (production of use, not for sale); and Jean’s
neighbour whose fractious child was always comforted by Jean’s pleasant
manner, and a party member whose galloping rhetoric brought smiles to
what might have been a sombre occasion. Said he, “None of those
parasitic bastards in Buckingham Palace, the White House or the Kremlin
would be tall enough to polish the shoes of Jean Higdon!”
Jean was for many years secretary of the Auckland Branch of the WSPNZ,
taking lengthy notes of the discussions we had, and typed out the
minutes almost verbatim.
Jean was responsible for the layout of the party journal, The Socialist
Review, from 1971 till 1982 when it folded because we couldn’t find any
writers. Jean was also a sometime parliamentary candidate for Auckland
Central on the socialist ticket, and with her late husband made a vital
contribution to spreading the socialist case in New Zealand.
They are both remembered for their humanity and generosity of spirit.
Our condolences go to Jean’s family.
Executive Committee, WSPNZ, 8 February 2008
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