R.I.P. - Dave Bird

From the Usenet alt.religion.scientology group came a very sad message:

"Subject: Dave Bird, R.I.P.
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology, uk.politics.misc
Followup-To: alt.religion.scientology

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Hi There!

Dave Bird died the morning of Sunday Feb 10th from complications arising from diabetes. He had been in hospital for six days.

http://www.tingleff.org/jensting/duke_tour/images/EGrinstead9903/DaveB1_l.jpg http://www.xemu.demon.co.uk/

Dave had been active in the NCCL and in the fight against miscarriages of justice before he came to activism against the criminal organisation known as the "church" of $cientology.

While Dave was a great debater - and a lot of fun - on a.r.s. he also had many effective moments in Real Life, notably initiating getting proper legal representation for Bonnie and Richard Woods (and the rest is history - I don't think the clams have sued anyone in the UK since then).

http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/wood3.htm http://www.solitarytrees.net/pickets/sp861.htm

Dave brought a welcome street theatre side to our pickets, including many props, some of which worked, some of which didn't and the largest one of which was Carrie the Giant Clamshell.

http://www.tingleff.org/jensting/duke_tour/muslinger/poole980314_a.html#mar28th

Dave worked hard at his activism, organising, doing practical things, designing props (the balloons were always a favourite of mine) and writing songs. He was a firm believer in the will of good people to show up at a demo that someone else had to do the hard work organising and he was happy to put in the work. He did ask a lot, but he gave more.

The criminal organisation known as the "church" of $cientology didn't like him one little bit, as evinced by the multi-page entry on their hate site RFW

www.religiousfreedomwatch.org/anti-religious-extremists/david-bird/

Dave would have gotten a kick out of the day he passed away being the day of the largest worldwide protest against the criminal organisation known as the "church" of $cientology.

I'll miss him

Best Regards

Jens"

Editor's note: Dave was unique, and a character in the way that only Brits can be characters. He was generous and funny. I'm saddened that I never had the chance to meet him, but I did 'converse' with him on Usenet. A loss to our world, and a great sadness. I'll miss him. Condolences to his family and friends. Requiescat in Pace, Dave.