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Kate Allan heroine of the left
AN American left-winger who fled McCarthyism after World
War II to live in Camden Town has died aged 91.
Friends of Kate Allan recently spread her ashes in the private
gardens behind St Martin’s Close, Camden Town.
Born in Boston, Kate lived in New York playing piano and singing
in jazz bars.
Her first husband, John, was killed during the Spanish Civil
War. The man that brought her the tragic news, Teddy Allan,
became her second husband. He would later write the script for
‘Oh What a Lovely War’.
As the McCarthy witch hunts intensified, Kate moved to Kensington
in 1950, settling in Baker Street marrying Teddy Allan, and
having two children Norman and Julie. Her daughter Julie later
married Tony Booth the father of Cherie Blair and now lives
in America.
In 1962, Kate moved to Elsworthy Road in Primrose Hill, where
she became involved with the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding,
which organised cultural exchanges with China. In 1976 she moved
to St Martin’s Close in Camden Town.
Ex-Camden mayor Gloria Lazenby – a close friend and neighbour
– helped Ms Allan by bringing her food and newspapers when
she couldn’t walk during the last few years of her life.
She said: “We used to talk about politics. She was very
supportive of the Camden Town Neighbourhood Advice Centre (CTNAC)
when it was set up.
“She was a very independent minded lady – it was very
sad when she couldn’t get about. She loved good food and
would only eat bread from the Little Bakery in Camden High Street.”
A keen poker player, Kate used to play late into the night with
friend life-long friend Susie Barry and played against the Hampstead
poet Al Alvarez.
Ms Barry, a neighbour said: “We used to play poker together
all the time. Just penny poker though, Kate wasn’t a big
gambler. We used to learn Chinese together, read books, play
poker and scrabble. She was incredibly beautiful – she
made a real impression on me when I first saw her walking down
the street.”
Ms Allan leaves behind her children, Norman and Julie, and three
grandchildren.
TOM FOOT |
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