It was March 2014, at the height of the `battle' of Barton Moss when the Salford Star began getting emails from Gerry Oates, who was Will Latham on Facebook. On reading the Salford Star's, almost daily, coverage of events and seeing the photos and livestreams on social media, he was absolutely horrified...
"I am surprised that all this police over reaction is taking place fairly close to the multi-million pound Media hub at Salford Quays" he wrote in the first email "I loathe the Authorities who belittle the Salford Protectors....After all they were runners up in the Observer Local Hero poll. They are my kind of people. They remind me of the folk who survived the Blitz."
Thus began a relationship by email and by letter that lasted for almost two years, with Gerry generously donating funding that allowed the Salford Star to get two issues out in print. Without Gerry Oates there would be no Salford Star.
"I am of advanced age and do not know how long I will be spared so I wanted to give you and your mates a boost, the thought being that you are in a good position to stand up for others in Salford and elsewhere" he wrote.
During these two short years we learned about Gerry's incredible life over 87 years, from seeing air displays at Barton airfield as a child, to his first job in a coal distribution centre, `just south of the Barton Swing Bridge', to time in the army, a religious order and in local government in Hampshire until his retirement.
"As a gormless school leaver in 1942 I had a job interview with the Guardian/MEN but didn't impress them one little bit" he wrote. But Gerry kept a keen interest in how the news was presented and studied police operations that worked against communities, from the Peace Convoy, to Dale Farm, to Balcombe and Barton Moss...
"In the 70s and 80s I used to help as a volunteer with the Travellers Aid Trust at Solstice time in Salisbury" he wrote "Those were the days when there were no mobile phones, when the police (1,330 from six counties) ambushed the Peace Convoy at the Beanfield. I dislike seeing them getting away with criminal behaviour. What matters to me most is the 4th Estate in a subservient role and not bringing to light what should be exposed for all to see."
"I recognise that the ordinary folk have been ill served by the Authorities (Mayor, Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable)" he added "GMP=utter disgrace but I see it as a government ploy which has failed just as Balcombe has failed for different reasons. They have tried to browbeat the Protectors and scare other people off. They will have to think again."
What horrified Gerry most about Barton Moss was seeing elderly people `manhandled' and the arrest of the then 15 year old schoolgirl, Saffron Hughes. He sent a cheque, via the Salford Star, so that her family could treat her to a weekend away after her ordeal. He also wanted to found an annual Salford Young Citizen Award, for young people who took part in protest serving the community. This didn't come off because we didn't think Salford Council and the schools would comply!
Throughout all the good deeds that Gerry did for Salford, he was adamant that he would remain anonymous. About five weeks ago we received a card from him, which, typically, referenced the state of journalism in this country...
"The journalist interviewed on BBC's Media Show on Radio 4 worked in a variety of jobs in the heyday of Fleet Street under press barons like Beaverbrook at the Express" he wrote "He said that GB no longer had a free press – too many restrictions and editors given to self censorship..."
The card ended with a message to the Salford Star `Keep The Flag Flying!'
He also wrote that he had an inoperable tumour of the colon and had been transferred to palliative care on the advice of the hospital. We held off replying because we wanted to send Gerry the new print issue of the Salford Star. Unfortunately, today we learned that he passed away at the beginning of March.
Gerry Oates didn't have any family but he had loads of friends. We were all his family.
R.I.P.
Stephen Kington
Editor, Salford Star
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