Brian Lewis

It is particularly sad for me to hear of Brian's passing. During my time in Lanarkshire Brian was my right hand man, the person I could rely upon on a daily basis to respond to event that required our presence. Together with Tony Coyle, Ian Nisbett, Vince and Margaret Macy, he was a founding member of Ciarbridge branch of the Coatbridge Militant Tendency - later to cover the whole of Monklands as members from Airdrie were also recruited. Brian was present at every poinding attempt that we were called upon to attend, not only across Lanarkshire but also Aryshire, Dumfries and Dumbartonshire which we were asked to cover. Graham Martin remembers one such incursion in Tannochside. It was a cold winters day and we had a brazier fired up which came under Brian's command. A passing coal merchant donated a sack of coal which Brian fed to the fire. At the end of the day his ever present woolly hat and his face were as black as the coal. In between paintings we would occasionally assist Vince Macy with his commercial leafletting which took us as far as Bathgate and all points in between. Every Saturday, he would be the first to arrive for the paper sale and petition stall in Coatbridge town centre, eventually becoming the activity's organiser. As the Militant became Scottish Militant Labour, Brian through his energy into canvassing for our local authority candidates in Easterhouse and Barlanark, and then Pollock in MSP elections. Brian and his mother were devoted to the socialist cause and I am sure the success that we achieved was down in no small part, to Brian's enthusiasm and energy. Rest in peace my dear friend and comrade.