R.I.P. Stuart Christie 1946-2020

Submitted by Fozzie on August 15, 2020

Reported on twitter by Phil Ruff.

https://twitter.com/ruffphilip/status/1294654943408852993?s=21

R Totale

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by R Totale on August 15, 2020

Damn. RIP to a true inspiration.

Reddebrek

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Reddebrek on August 15, 2020

RIP, I remember when first looking up Anarchism the story of a young Scottish lad who went to Spain to kill Franco despite not speaking any Spanish was one the first things that came up. He's been on radar ever since and its staggering how much of UK and European Anarchist history and events he was at least tangentially related to.

I also appreciated his mammoth film archive and his very cheap E-book store. Both appear to still be up though there is no announcement on its homepage.

https://christiebooks.co.uk/

syndicalist

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on August 15, 2020

Damn. Just saw this on Freedom Press Facebook

rat

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by rat on August 15, 2020

An incredible character. A brave and influential person. Proper anarchist.
I first read about Stuart Christie in the NME when I was a teenager:

https://standupandspit.wordpress.com/2018/08/16/anarchist-in-the-uk/

There are some really good photographs of him as well as some of his writing on the Kate Sharpely Library website.

https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/4b8h4d

Orkney. 1980.

Libcom have documents and texts by Stuart Christie:
https://libcom.org/tags/stuart-christie

Black Badger

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Black Badger on August 16, 2020

i never had the chance to meet Stuart face to face, but we corresponded from time to time, and i'm happy to say that i was able to contribute/suggest a few things to the Anarchist Film Archive. he was a tireless proponent of The Idea, and even though he and i didn't always see eye-to-eye on various topics, there was always mutual respect and real camaraderie. his legacy will remain strong as long as there are anarchists. rest in power.

tyneside anarchist

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by tyneside anarchist on August 16, 2020

xxxx

Kate Sharpley

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Kate Sharpley on August 16, 2020

If you have memories of Stuart, please send them to us. We'd like to try and write something longer about his life.

R Totale

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by R Totale on August 16, 2020

One bit of trivia that might be worth including is the section from the Christie/Meltzer "Floodgates of Anarchy" that was used on the back sleeve of the Clash's "White Riot" single. It is a brilliant bit of writing that, I still find myself reminded of it on a regular basis.

Khawaga

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Khawaga on August 16, 2020

Rest in power, Stuart.

Kate Sharpley

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Kate Sharpley on August 17, 2020

Tribute from Joan Busquets:
"His death has robbed me of a comrade, a co-worker upon whom I could always rely. Let me say that Stuart spent his entire life championing the memory of the maquis, in which he was an indefatigable pioneer."
https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/tb2t62

Kate Sharpley

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Kate Sharpley on August 18, 2020

We have just posted translations of tributes from:
Octavio Alberola
"René’s answer stopped me in my tracks, because even though Stuart had told me a week before that the cancer had left him still hoarse and that the findings of his medical tests were none too encouraging, it never at any moment occurred to me that he would be taken so quickly. I am surrounded by several male and female comrades – more or less of my own age – who are in none too rude health and at my age (due to turn 93 shortly) the thought that one’s days are numbered is just “normal”.

But in Stuart’s case, how could this be when he was eighteen years my junior? Besides, we had both been working on joint projects and both had been determined to plough ahead with our battles with the world of authority and exploitation. "
You can read all of it at https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/d51dns

Frank Mintz
"Stuart has left us at a point when, his homeland, and the capitalist system in general (whether private capitalism, statist, marxist-leninist or religious) is in the throes of a crisis; so the continuity and gravitas and determination that were the mainstays of Stuart’s life continue to make a sound contribution to activists, current and future. His is an honest and active legacy, mirroring his sensibilities which were always linked to reality and to a rejection of social exploitation in every sphere of life.

May the earth sit lightly on you, Stuart."
https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/w3r3xf

wojtek

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by wojtek on August 21, 2020

Was there any comment in the Spanish press?

darren p

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by darren p on August 22, 2020

He was also mentioned in El País, a popular daily newspaper.

https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-08-18/un-escoces-de-la-fai.html

Auld-bod

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Auld-bod on August 24, 2020

Last night on BBC radio 4 “Last Word”, gave Stuart an obituary. Unfortunate the presenter was very ignorant. It is on BBC web thingy.

Reddebrek

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Reddebrek on August 24, 2020

Auld-bod

Last night on BBC radio 4 “Last Word”, gave Stuart an obituary. Unfortunate the presenter was very ignorant. It is on BBC web thingy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000ltsd

Alt

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ltsd

Stuart Christie's segment is at the end at 20 minutes in. It asked me to make an account to listen to it, I've noticed the BBC is increasingly putting hoops in to make sure only patriotic fee paying Brits can enjoy its output.

Its a bit typical, not much is new for people who already knew him or knew about him, a few brief snippets from his daughter, and the rest is about the attempt to kill Franco and the Angry Brigade.

The older BBC interview with Christie on the same subject is here https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00wbjpj

I've made a video version if any internationals have trouble accessing that, https://youtu.be/0rBAVn-Vlpc

Footage comes from Christie's short film Kill Franco!
https://christiebooks.co.uk/anarchist_films/kill-franco-2008-christie-magoogan/

R Totale

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by R Totale on August 25, 2020

A nice, relatively long, write-up here: https://maydayrooms.org/stuart_christie/

Kate Sharpley

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Kate Sharpley on August 26, 2020

Thanks, RT. Beautiful:
"What I would describe in my work as ‘transnational networks of anarchists’, he would simply call ‘friendships’. He did not consider himself a specimen for study. He lived his politics."

Another one: Stuart Christie, the Eternal Young Rebel Always in the Fight for Life by Xavier Montanyà
https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/kprstj

rat

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by rat on August 27, 2020

Freedom Press has produced an excellent article:

The following article aims to act as a roundup of some of the outpouring of tributes which have followed Christie’s death after a struggle with lung cancer.

https://freedomnews.org.uk/stuart-christie-obituaries/

tyneside anarchist

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by tyneside anarchist on August 30, 2020

https://www.todoporhacer.org/stuart-christie/?fbclid=IwAR2jWkv31RvCEdQFy6H5gAZOeB4cPirh91HjSHpdQRagZ8mvn4b5ShtQPCU

tyneside anarchist

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by tyneside anarchist on September 2, 2020

https://noticiasanarquistas.noblogs.org/post/2020/09/01/franca-in-memoriam-stuart-christie-10-de-julho-de-1946-15-de-agosto-de-2020/

Kate Sharpley

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Kate Sharpley on September 4, 2020


Thinking of, and sending our deepest sympathies to, Stuart Christie's family on this day we say our goodbyes. This photo represents just a sliver of the work and impact Stuart had in editing, publishing and writing on the histories and ideas of anarchism. We could fill a room with it. Stuart's work was a monumental achievement that both allowed us to learn about the unknowns who brought anarchism to life as well as enabled us to redefine what anarchism was and could be. You are sorely missed, mate. Abrazos.

Kate Sharpley

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Kate Sharpley on September 5, 2020

"Stuart was a loyal fellow, loyal to an ideal, a cause and to his friends and comrades. But allow us to highlight something else from Stuart’s curriculum vitae. Above all else, this dyed-in-the-wool Scottish anarchist, was a kindly person, with a great sense of humour. Affable and approachable, fond of hearing and lending an ear. Who never hesitated to put a question when there was something he did not understand and who was constantly learning.

"The international anarchist movement has lost a great stalwart. And the loss of the man, the activist and the intellectual will be sorely felt."
Chris Ealham and Julián Vadillo Muñoz https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/jq2dg8

Noah Fence

4 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Noah Fence on September 6, 2020

R Totale

One bit of trivia that might be worth including is the section from the Christie/Meltzer "Floodgates of Anarchy" that was used on the back sleeve of the Clash's "White Riot" single. It is a brilliant bit of writing that, I still find myself reminded of it on a regular basis.

Shame the cringeworthy Clash didn’t read it.

wojtek

4 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by wojtek on September 7, 2020

I'd rather get no obituary than a positive one from the Guardian. Weren't even polite enough to do a hatchet job on him.

R Totale

4 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by R Totale on September 29, 2020

There's an interview with Christie from around the time of "Towards a Citizen's Militia" here: https://libcom.org/library/north-american-anarchist-vol-1-no-7-octobernovember-1980

Kate Sharpley

3 years 11 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Kate Sharpley on December 24, 2020

https://archive.org/details/StuartChristieBBC1980
Brian Barr reports on the background of anarchist Stuart Christie, who now lives on Sanday, Orkney. Gives a brief biography of Stuart Christie, why he moved to Orkney and what he thinks of the place. Christie discusses anarchism, Cienfuegos Press and the reason for publishing 'Towards a Citizens Militia'. The local alternative paper 'The Free Winged Eagle' is also mentioned. (Original broadcast BBC Current Account programme, 28 October 1980).

Kate Sharpley

3 years 9 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Kate Sharpley on March 1, 2021

The fundraiser has reached its target (but don't let that stop you). The organiser says "Thank you all. It's going to be epic."

Kate Sharpley

3 years 9 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Kate Sharpley on March 4, 2021

Stuart Christie's Life and Legacy w/ The Stuart Christ Memorial Archive https://soundcloud.com/12rulesforwhat/34-stuart-christies-life-and-legacy

Jess Thorne joins us to discuss the life and passing of Stuart Christie, one of the UK's most famous anarchists who is perhaps best known for participating in a plot to assassinate Franco in 1964.

We also discuss the radical prisoner support group which Christie refounded, the memorial archive and the value of past struggles in informing our politics today.

Jess’s obituary of Christie: maydayrooms.org/stuart_christie/

You can give money to the archive fundraiser here:

uk.gofundme.com/f/stuart-christie-memorial-archive

R Totale

3 years 9 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by R Totale on March 4, 2021

I can't remember where Reddebrek was asking about if there's plans to save the Christie film archive, but that's covered in the interview at a bit past the 35-minute mark - short answer is that the plan is to have it hosted on the Mayday Rooms server.

Fozzie

3 years 9 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Fozzie on March 4, 2021

Yup and I assume the website stuff is also covered, so that's good. It was an interesting interview I thought...

Reddebrek

3 years 9 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Reddebrek on March 5, 2021

R Totale

I can't remember where Reddebrek was asking about if there's plans to save the Christie film archive, but that's covered in the interview at a bit past the 35-minute mark - short answer is that the plan is to have it hosted on the Mayday Rooms server.

Thanks, that's good news, the interview was good too. I was worried about the archive going, I was slowly copying stuff to the internet archive and sticking a few I though might get past the copyright police on youtube, and someone else has been adding the films alphabetically onto Kolektiva.

R Totale

3 years 5 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by R Totale on June 11, 2021

The full film archive is now hosted on Kolekitva here:
https://kolektiva.media/video-channels/stuartchristiearchive/videos

Kate Sharpley

3 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Kate Sharpley on August 12, 2021

We have posted a handful of Stuart's writings to mark the anniversary of his death. Also, we've been working on A Life for Anarchy: A Stuart Christie Reader (out later this year).

‘We hope this book will give you a sense of the richness and complexity of his life. We also hope it will act as a memorial, given that we haven’t been able to meet up and celebrate his life. […]

‘We know that this is not the final word on Stuart’s life. Seeing the materials that people are sharing with us and the Stuart Christie Memorial Archive, we feel as though we are constantly learning more. We hope this reader gives you a sense of the breadth of his experiences, and celebrates his humanity, his morality and his intuitive grasp of anarchism.’ (from the introduction)

More details https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/k0p4c3