Jeremy Corbyn MP pays his tribute to Labour councillor Dave Horan, who died on Saturday

Monday September 20, 2010

BY JEREMY CORBYN MP

Camden Councillor, Labour Party activist and socialist Dave Horan died last Saturday in the lovely surroundings of the Marie Curie Hospice in Lyndhurst Gardens.

Dave suffered multiple and severe cancers and finally succumbed; he suffered great pain and distress towards the end. He was supported by friends and well wishers from the Irish Community, Camden Council, numerous local groups and friends from  the Labour Party in Camden and Islington.
Intensely proud of his Irish heritage Dave helped to keep the Irish Councillors network in operation, strongly supported the Camden Irish Centre. He supported the foundation of the Islington Irish Centre, the Roger Casement in St Johns Way, Archway. The centre provided a cultural base for the community, Irish Dancing, pensioners lunches, facilities for meetings and an advice centre.
 

Dave as the centre’s advice worker gave help and support to many and showed his real concern and solidarity with anyone up against it, be they young or older. The newly arrived Liberal Democrat Council in Islington cut it’s modest  grant in2000 which led to closure and sale to a private developer. The community were the poorer and Dave was unemployed.

Since shortly after that time Dave worked with me on local casework and in my Parliamentary office on a part time basis. A sharp and lively mind, an enormous knowledge and understanding of history made Dave a great helper and asset. He is sadly missed.
Very proud of Kentish Town where he lived Dave and represented Dave was defeated in the 2006 elections but was given a huge fillip by being elected once again only four short months ago, despite his illness.
 

Active in support of Camden Law centre Dave was committed to education and opportunities for young people. He was a Director of the Migrant Training Company and of Job Train and did his best to ensure those who had missed out on education got another chance.
Many roles attracted him as a Councillor but above all was committed to decent housing for all by building sufficient new council homes.
 

I first met Dave when he was a teacher in Holloway School and through the Guildford Four Campaign – fittingly two of the stalwarts of that historic campaign, Errol and Theresa Smalley whose nephew Paul Hill wasted years in prison, were with Dave right to the end.

The Irish community, the people of Kentish Town and the Labour Party have lost a great comrade, a “salt of the earth” socialist to quote one of his many friends, John McDonnell MP.
Thanks Dave for all you did, your friendship and advice.
 

Jeremy Corbyn is the Labour MP for Islington North