In Memoriam

I'm just back from Regina again, where I attended my father's wake. A sad occasion, but I did learn a lot more about my dad from his friends... Apparently he wasn't adverse to the occasional joint!

BRUCE VERNON LAWSON. Born on November 4, 1933, in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, died of complications arising from melanoma on August 7, 2007, in Regina, Saskatchewan. A graduate of the University of Western Australia, he immigrated to Canada in the early 1960's, where he became a Globe and Mail reporter, theatre critic, and entertainment editor, as well as a television journalist for the CBC. An accomplished writer and documentary filmmaker, he devoted much of his life to the causes of socialism and social justice which lay close to his heart. During the 1968 federal elections, he was press secretary to legendary NDP leader Tommy Douglas. Bruce then moved to Saskatchewan to be a senior advisor to Premier Alan Blakeney. In the mid-seventies, he turned to writing full-time and his hit satirical musical revue, Left Turns, played in cabarets and union halls across Canada. In 1980 he moved back to Perth to be director of the West Australian Arts Council. For his remaining years he lived in Perth, in recent times returning to the prairies for the Canadian summer, and finding great pleasure in exploring the worlds between his two homelands. His former wives are Mary Wood of Cobourg, Ontario, and Pamela Lawson of Perth. His final partner was Lee Anne Schienbein of Regina. He is survived by children Ben and Liza of Toronto, Guy of Woodstock, New York, Hugh of Perth, and brothers Robert and Michael. His grandchildren, whom he loved dearly, are Christopher, Sophia and Olivia, and twins Anna and Lucy. Wakes to celebrate Bruce's life will be held in Regina, and on Cottesloe beach in Perth. [Links added by me]

Listening to: I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General by Gilbert and Sullivan from The Pirates of Penzance.