Britain Mourns Death of Bevan

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29251, 8 July 1960, Page 13

Britain Mourns Death of Bevan

(Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 7. Friends and enemies today mourned the death of Aneurin Bevan, the pit boy from the depressed Welsh minefields, who became Britain’s most fiery and eloquent Socialist leader.

Several British newspapers attribute bis death to cancer. Mr Bevan, the deputy-leader of the Labour Party, aged 62. died yesterday afternoon at his Buckinghamshire farm—four days after the announcement that he had suffered a relapse. The former Left-wing rebel ended his days as a pillar of the party establishment

At least one newspaper suggests that he had sensed a year ago that his career was near its end. His last public speech—at a Labour conference in Blackpool last November—was a plea for unity within his party. Statesmen, politicians and newspapers of the Right and Left today unite in tribute to the politician, who, in the words of the Labour Party leader, Mr Hugh Gaitskell, was “a man who counted—a big man.” The Labour “Daily Herald” said: “This man of leaping wit and towering personality was unquestionably one of Britain’s great men, one with a livening touch of genius.” The “Guardian” commented: “It is a bitter irony for Labour to have lost Mr Bevan, so often the rebel, at just the moment when he might have been its

best hope of preserving unity.” “The Times” commented that Mr Bevan’s gifts were great, his purpose sincere, and his passing would leave the House of Commons a greyer place. The “Daily Mail” described Mr Bevan as “a great politician,” the “Daily Express” referred to him as “a political genius,” and the “Daily Mirror” launched an Aneurin Bevan memorial fund. The Queen sent a message of sympathy to Mr Bevan’s widow, Jennie Lee. and the Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) saluted his passing within an hour. (Mr Bevan’s life; Page HI