Blair Peach

Clement Blair Peach (25 March 1946 - April 23 1979) was a New Zealand-born teacher who became a symbol of resistance when he died as a result of alleged police brutality during a demonstration in London, England. At the time he was teaching at a special needs school in London. He was also known as a left wing activist and a member of the Socialist Workers' Party.

Blair Peach was an active member of the Socialist Teachers' Association within the National Union of Teachers

A campaigner and agitator against far right wing and neo-Nazi organisations, Peach was killed in a clash with officers from the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group (SPG) in Southall, in April 1979, during a demonstration by the Anti-Nazi League against a National Front election meeting taking place in the town hall. He was knocked unconscious and died the day after in hospital, although police brutality was never proven to be a contributory factor in his death. It was claimed that he had fallen to a blow from a rubberised police radio. A subsequent search of SPG lockers revealed several extensive collections of "unauthorised" weapons, many of which were said to be "souvenirs" from foreign police forcesFact|date=August 2008.

At the inquest in May 1980 the jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure, prompting Mr. Peach's girlfriend Celia Stubbs to claim the police constable who administered the fatal blows to his head had got off 'scot free'. Identification of the police involved was hampered by the cultivation of beards by most of the SPG shortly afterwardsFact|date=August 2008. She continues to campaign for a public inquiry into his death.

A primary school in Southall was later named after Blair Peach. [ [http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/education/schools/primary_schools/blair_peach_primary_school Blair Peach Primary School ] ]

"Reggae Fi Peach", a song on Linton Kwesi Johnson's album "Bass Culture", chronicles the death of Blair Peach in the form of Dub Poetry, representing a position of defiance to the attitudes of the UK government at that time. The Ruts also commemorated the death in the tune "Jah War". The 2 Tone album "The 2 Tone Story" is also dedicated to his memory. Hazel O'Connor wrote "Calls the Tune" in his memory.

References

External links

* [http://www.anl.org.uk/13-blairpeach.htm Who was Blair Peach?]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/317775.stm BBC News Online]
* [http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/education/schools/primary_schools/blair_peach_primary_school/ Data on Blair Peach Primary School]

Persondata
NAME= Peach, Blair
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=teacher, political activist
DATE OF BIRTH=1946-03-25
PLACE OF BIRTH=New Zealand
DATE OF DEATH=1979-04-23
PLACE OF DEATH=London