COMMEMORATIVE BENCH FOR Noel Lynch

 

JOSEPH HEALY writes:

At the unveiling of the commemorative bench for Noel yesterday in Finchley where Darren Johnson cut the ribbon and gave a speech. I also spoke. It was organised by his widow. Many people there I hadn’t seen in years. It was quite moving! It’s in Cherry Wood opposite East Finchley Tube station. 

Noel Lynch was for many years Chair of the London #Greenparty and a former #MLA A former auctioneer he was an avid collector and ran a bric a brac #shop at #GrandparadeN12 which he also campaigned to save from demolition. He was active in #Barnet local politics and Chair of the local Green Party for many years. A proud Irishman from Co #Limerick he read the #Limerickleader until his death. He was active in the Green Party Trade Union Group and the Green Seniors. Noel ran himself ragged for many years visiting local Green parties throughout London and encouraging new members. He was also compassionate and during the #pandemic and before his shop became a focal point for #homeless people receiving support. He campaigned on a wide range of environmental and #socialjustice issues and never spared himself. He will be missed by many as an authentic campaigner and man of the people.

THE GREEN ROOM (for Noel Lynch)

This shop is so full of miscellaneous things,

Unassorted and assorted, that,

Its customers can barely enter,

And they must shuffle along,

Its narrow corridors sideways,

Canyoned in by incredible merchandise

Hung from all available walls,

And stacked ceiling-high.

 

An inventory of its stock would be

An epic in itself, including:

Desiccated dinosaur turds,

And Rubber hot water bottles,

Fashioned to resemble infamous politicians,

Giant butterflies in varnished collectors’ cases

Piles of football programmes,

Unique coins, and fossilised fish.

Texts in every language known on this planet,

Portraits of Macedonian aristocrats,

Necklaces fashioned from polished bones,

Texts in languages not known on this planet,

And several pairs of boots…,

 

And in one corner,

The shop’s owner presides,

Like a benign dragon in a second-hand suit.

A druid of the discarded,

A trading spider spinning a web of contacts,

Linking, deals, politics, culture and commerce

With invisible threads

Cemented by endless anecdotes,

Joining everyone together with shared humanity

Working to make all our worlds better.

©PRMurry