A thank you

Gerry Gable | Wednesday, 25 July 2007

I would like to extend my deepest thanks to everyone who came to my 70th birthday party, especially my family, some of whom travelled from abroad, my colleagues, whose presents are treasured, and friends old and new especially those with whom I stood shoulder to shoulder during our street fighting days.

When I was 60 I wrote a thank you letter which said I had heard of champagne socialists but that evening I became a champagne anti-fascist. Well things had not changed ten years on, so thanks for the booze, books, music and films and a particular thank you to Philosophy Football for the Hope not Hate T-shirt with Gable 70 on the back.

For those of you who missed the day, we had some really good food and a great folk singer and a wonderful Klezmer band to end the evening.

The hall was decorated with the huge Hope Not Hate banner that had been on our national campaign bus tour in March/April and signed by hundreds of people including the Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Most of all, thanks to our office manager, Cathy, whose strategic planning was worthy of the Allied High Command in World War Two.

Love and respect to you all.

Gerry Gable