25.09.2014

Heart on his sleeve

Steve Wallis, 1966-2014

Comrade Steve Wallis, well known on the Manchester left and stalwart of the city’s Left Unity branch, died of a suspected heart attack last week at the tragically young age of 48. Having first met Steve at an LU meeting only late last year, I cannot claim to have known him well. But Steve had a frank disposition - that rare type who really do wear their heart on their sleeve - and it did not take me long to work out what motivated him.

Steve will be remembered for his lifelong commitment to the struggle for a truly human society, for socialism. Despite persistent mental health issues, Steve usually managed to maintain a packed activist’s diary. He was well known around the workers’ movement through involvement in a variety of campaigns and leftwing organisations over the course of his life. Like many of us, he felt frustrated at the failure of the far left to make a breakthrough in society.

Whatever his own mood, Steve was consistently warm and respectful towards others - even when wondering aloud if you were a police spy! He was generous too - a regular donor to the Weekly Worker fighting fund, he paid double the normal rate for standing order subscribers, plus the occasional extra cheque. And, occasional paranoia aside, he made for a frank and intelligent sparring partner in debate. We often disagreed on questions of tactics and strategy, but were united on one fundamental point: the necessity of political honesty.

In addition to his passion for politics, Steve was a keen musician and had wide-ranging interests, including programming, artificial intelligence and much else besides. His website (socialiststeve.me.uk) and blog give some idea of the scope of his inquisitiveness, but it was a cause of regret for Steve that problems with concentration and memory meant he found sustained study of a single topic difficult. Despite his health problems and conspiratorial thinking, he could have a remarkably sharp sense of humour, was a reliably cheery presence at any political event you happened to be at, and a particularly enthusiastic champion of Left Unity. He will be sorely missed.

Laurie Jensen