Dave Dane

 About Dave

Dave Dane was an activist within Greenpeace [ London ] which is how I got to know him.

He had attained a degree in Organic Chemistry, becaming a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and went on to teach at a further education college in Haringey.

He was also a key figure within the London Anarchist Forum, active in his trade union, and within the IWW [ Industrial Workers of the World ].

The Most Well Read Individual

Something which Dave said on a regular basis was: “ I’ve read about that”.

That was a reflection of his wide ranging knowledge upon aspects of ancient history, radical history, aspects of science, trade unionism, and coins.

For a long time I was trying to persuade him to write a history of the ancient world via an examination of the various coins of the period. He was the only person I ever met who might have been able to do so.

His other great interest was playing chess which he continued to do
until very recently.

Sayings and Slogans

Dave had a wonderful way of making various political points via his slogans and posterboard on demonstrations.

Here are just two of my favourites

Outside of Australia House upon a demonstration about the building of the Franklin Dam –

‘ Damn the Dam’

Then while outside the French Embassy on the subject of Nukiller Bomb Tests at Muraora Atoll –

‘ No more banging in the Pacific.’

Outing Bob

Having known spycop Bob Lambert as Bob Robinson while he infiltrated Greenpeace [ London ] Dave joined a group of activists who outed him at a conference which was being held at the TUC building in Bloomsbury.

He was part of the group which distributed leaflets to those who attended the event.

It was only very recently that I learnt that it was Dave who distributed the leaflets to everyone who was on the speakers platform. That included Bob, who looked him in the eyes as he did so.

The Last Eight Years

Eight years ago Dave became a paraplegic and landed up in a care home due to medical negligence for which he took out a court case that he won.

Even then he continued a lot of his reading, while playing chess online and as part of a chess club.

During this period I would chat with him almost every day on the phone.

    Dave Dane

 March 7th 1951  - January 9th 2025