We are very sad to learn of the death of Brian Slocock, after a long illness. Brian was a founder member of Syria Solidarity. A Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Paisley, in retirement Brian committed himself to campaigning for a free Syria.
In 2014, Brian researched and wrote the content for our Syria’s Forgotten Cities campaign.
In 2015, he wrote for Syria Solidarity on music and solidarity, on Syria’s Freedom Charter, and on showing evidence to MPs of Assad’s systematic large-scale use of torture.
In January 2016, as horrific images of starvation were emerging from the besieged town of Madaya, it was Brian who first suggested we call for RAF airdrops of aid to civilians. That call was subsequently taken up by many others, including the late Jo Cox MP, and for a time it had some effect in helping pressure the Assad regime to allow more ground access to humanitarians.
Brian was also very involved in our outreach to UK trade unions, seeking solidarity with Syrian teachers whose schools were being targeted by Assad regime and Russian forces.
After Jo Cox was murdered in June 2016, Brian wrote about those who attacked her memory on both the political left and right, and who slandered the White Helmets, the Syrian rescue organisation that she had supported.
He will be greatly missed.
The funeral will take place at Chester Crematorium, Chester CH1 5BB, at 2pm on Tuesday 30th April. Brian asked for no flowers, but suggested donations to Médecins Sans Frontières in his name.
