Community bids farewell to popular campaigner (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Community bids farewell to popular Battersea campaigner Alice Taylor

7:40am Friday 8th April 2011 in Latest News

Community members have bid a fond farewell to a popular campaigner who became “a surrogate mother to the people of Battersea”.

Alice Taylor, a long-serving member of the Battersea Power Station Community Group (BPSCG) and active Labour supporter died in her sleep just two weeks after her 97th birthday.

Mrs Taylor, who survived a direct bomb-drop on her Brussell's Road house, in Clapham Junction, during World War II, was known throughout the community, having lived in the Winstanley Estate, the Surrey Lane Estate, the Kambala Estate and finally George Potter House, in Battersea High Street.

She had been present at every BPSCG demonstration and attended every meeting, every month - often hosting them in her living room in Surrey Lane Estate. The keen St Mary’s Church parishioner, who could still be seen riding pillion on the motorbike of her son Jack when she was 87, was also known for helping take Wandsworth Council to court over damp on the estate - resulting in major repairs.

According to her other son, 66-year-old Paul, Mrs Taylor “still had a voice” at 97 - never tiring of chatting to staff and patients at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital when she was admitted last month.

He said: “She was a wonderful lady really. She was a loving mother and wife.

“She was very protective of Battersea - if any organisation needed support she would jump up and help.

“She could have mothered everybody - she was a surrogate mother to the people of Battersea.”

BPSCG chairman Brian Barnes said Mrs Taylor had polio as a child and needed special shoes - but never let this hold her back.

He added: “This is a big loss to Battersea politics. Although she had a good innings I’m pretty sure she would have enjoyed a card from the Queen at 100.”

Mrs Taylor used to work at Morgan Crucible, in Battersea Church Road, and was married to Bert, who died from a heart attack in 1982 aged 76.

Among her many campaigns, she tried to stop the council tearing down Latchmere Baths, and was on a rota during the occupation by protestors.

Mrs Taylor was a lifelong supporter of Battersea Labour Party and campaigned during elections for the St Mary's Park ward. She leafletted in the ward for local councillors and the MPs Alf Dubs and Martin Linton.

Mr Barnes said: “I first met Alice at aged 64 when she volunteered to help paint the Battersea mural near Battersea bridge in 1977. Alice liked the idea of campaigning and joined Battersea Redevelopment Action Group to demand that new building included affordable housing on the Morgan site.

“She then joined BPSCG and campaigned for local people to be included in that plan. She was active till her 90th year and attended the 20th anniversary party of that campaign in Ethelberga Hall in 2003.”

Mrs Taylor died in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on March 31 after she was admitted with breathing complications. Her funeral is being held on Tuesday, at 11am, at Lambeth Crematorium.

A reception at Dimson Hall, in the Somerset Estate, Battersea Church Road, will follow at 12pm.

• Pay your tribute to Mrs Taylor by emailing imason@london.newsquest.co.uk or leave a comment below.