Writing an obituary is hard. How can you sum up someone's life in a way that does them justice, that reaches out with your memories to those that read it in a way that they can recognize the person whose life, whose achievements, whose loss is at the centre of it.
Nick Robin, life-long socialist and activist, died on July 10 1997 aged 4l after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was an exceptional person; demanding near perfection of himself but patient with others' shortcomings, warm, incisive - a pleasure to know.
He is sorely missed by all who had the privilege to know him, by his many friends, by partner Bridget and children Scarlet, Liam and Joel.
Nick threw himself into politics at Sussex University in the 1970s and quickly joined the International Marxist Group.
A fervent internationalist, he became prominent in the Turkish Solidarity Campaign formed after the 1 980 coup and declaration of marshall law. With his usual thoroughness he became well versed in the history and politics of Turkey, and visited the country several times. He became well known in the exile community here as a comrade and as a friend.
For revolutionaries being able to communicate ideas clearly in an accessible manner, producing material that invites involvement from the reader is as vital a skill as any •iner we need.
Nick became not only a vivid writer but skilled too at the unseen but equally vital backroom jobs of editing, layout and production.
In this capacity he became a vital part of the print staff of the International Marxist Group and later the Socialist League.
The same skills were also crucial to the production of the first issues of Socialist Outlook as a bi-monthly magazine.
These talents, developed in his political life were to stand him in good stead professionally. In 1984 he became publications manager for the housing charity, Shelter.
In 1989 he moved on to become editor of the magazine of what was then the Health Visitors Association. It was no surprise to anyone that knew his work, his dedication and his talent that within two years it won the TUC's trade union journal of the year award.
In tribute to Nick we publish here one of the articles for which he is best remembered, a major feature for International, the magazine of the Socialist League, early in 1983.
Terry Conway Socialis Durlook