Basil Eric Goldstone (October 1909 – November 1988) was a British Liberal Party activist. He served for some years on Kingsclere and Whitchurch Rural District Council.[1] He was the founder of the Liberal Animal Welfare Group.
Basil Goldstone | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 1909 |
| Died | November 1988 |
| Occupation | Political activist |
Career
editGoldstone was born in Twickenham.[2] He studied at Richmond Hill School and Dover College before joining the Royal Air Force.[1] He stood repeatedly for the Liberal Party in general elections, but was never elected: in Hendon in 1935, Petersfield in 1945, Dover in 1950 and 1959, Basingstoke in 1964, Peterborough in 1966, Norfolk South in 1970, and Harlow in February and October 1974.[3] He was more successful locally as he was elected in 1961 to the Kingsclere and Whitchurch Rural District Council by 450 to 50 votes.[2]
He moved to King's Lynn in 1965 as a hospital catering officer and won a Lynn Town Council seat in 1971.[2] In 1976–77, he served as president of the Liberal Party. He was president of Lynn Liberals and involved with St Margaret's Residents' Association which provided homes for the elderly.[2]
In May 1988, an American red oak tree was planted near the Red Mount in The Walks park in King's Lynn in recognition of his service to the Liberal Party.[2][4]
Animal welfare
editA long-term supporter of animal welfare, in 1978, he proposed wide-ranging animal protection legislation, which the party voted to support.[5] In 1980, Goldstone founded the Liberal Animal Welfare Group.[6] Richard D. Ryder has commented that Goldstone "rapidly made the Liberal Party the most active of the four major parties in the whole field of animal welfare".[7]
Goldstone was an opponent of fox hunting and in 1986 criticized Henry Bellingham's arguments that fox hunting is a humane way to kill.[8]
Death
editGoldstone died at his home in King's Lynn, aged 79.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b The Times Guide to the House of Commons (1964), p. 25
- ^ a b c d e f "The Liberal stalwart who cared for people". Lynn News & Advertiser. 25 November 1988. p. 3. (subscription required)
- ^ The Times Guide to the House of Commons (1974), p. 140
- ^ "Lib plants a tree". Lynn News & Advertiser. 10 May 1988. p. 12. (subscription required)
- ^ Richard Dudley Ryder, Animal revolution: changing attitudes toward speciesism, p. 183
- ^ Garner, Robert. (2016). Animal Rights: The Changing Debate. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 187. ISBN 978-1349251766
- ^ Ryder, Richard D. (1983). Victims of Science: The Use of Animals in Research. National Anti-Vivisection Society. p. 154. ISBN 978-0905225067
- ^ "Challenge on animal welfare". Lynn News & Advertiser. 27 March 1986. p. 20. (subscription required)