Socialists farewell fierce but principled comrade

Bill Andersen's partner, Jennifer Francis, carries his photo onto Orakei Marae yesterday. Picture / Dean Purcell

Socialists old and young brought their red armbands, upraised fists and songs of solidarity to a memorial service for die-hard unionist Bill Andersen in Auckland.

The service, yesterday afternoon at Ngati Whatua's Orakei Marae, was the first of three public memorials that will be held through the country.

There was no big public funeral: the fierce but principled Mr Andersen, who died on Wednesday last week, aged 80, left explicit instructions that he wanted a no-fuss send-off.

According to daughter Rochelle van Swet, he was cremated at a small family service last weekend.

Mr Andersen's long-time partner, Jennifer Francis, the National Distribution Union's administrator, looked fragile and didn't speak at the service.

However, she later said that Mr Andersen had permitted "his political party, the Socialist Party of Aotearoa, to organise what he called a 'meeting'. So it was a very special meeting."

Actually, said party member and long-time friend Brendan Tuohy, Mr Andersen had said "we could do this if we wanted - he was modest enough to imagine that we might not want to".

All of Mr Andersen's family were present, including his other children, Glenn and Karl, his grandchildren and his former wife, Flora.

Several hundred people gathered around them for a marathon 2 1/2-hour event that involved speeches and songs in English, Maori and Samoan. If any of Mr Andersen's old adversaries were in the crowd, they were well hidden among the casual clothes, uniforms (St John Ambulance, NZ Post and Stagecoach among them) and Samoan ceremonial wear. Staunch socialists wore red armbands.

Also present was former Cabinet minister Laila Harre, now a Nurses Organisation executive, who raised her right arm in a closed-fist salute as she approached the picture of Mr Andersen placed on a flower-covered table.

Other mourners included Cabinet ministers Paul Swain and Rick Barker, fellow Labour MP Mark Gosche, Auckland City councillors Dr Bruce Hucker and Dr John Hinchcliff, former councillor Maire Leadbeater and former mayor Colin Kay.

People stood and arms rose to the sky as the socialist anthems the Internationale and Solidarity Forever were rolled out. But the last word in tribute was scribbled in a message book at the marae entrance, from Mr Andersen's daughter-in-law Inge Andersen.

In a few words, it summed up her affection for her gruff father-in-law as well as her grief: "Keep the angels in line up there."

Further memorial services will be held on Tuesday at the Petone Workingmen's Club in Lower Hutt and at the Trade Union Centre in Christchurch the following day.