Obituary: Comrade A. S. Collinson. (1940)

Obituary from the March 1940 issue of the Socialist Standard

It is with deep regret that we have to record another gap in the ranks of the Party.

This time caused by the passing of our comrade, A. S. Collinson, and once again the loss of one of the hardest and most conscientious workers the Party has known.

Comrade Collinson was a good organiser and spared neither time nor energy to give of his best to the Party in this direction.

He joined the Socialist Party in 1919 and soon made his mark, first as branch secretary and very shortly after as Party lecture secretary. While he held this post he initiated the first attempt to place the lecture report on a statistical basis, with the view of ascertaining the value of the various propaganda stations run by the Party. Up to the outbreak of the war his system of reporting on this branch of the Party’s work had been adhered to. During this time he also engaged in outdoor propaganda in a very useful manner, although physically not fitted for the job.

He was next elected to the Executive Committee and was a consistent member until four or five years prior to his death.

During this period of office he became Party General Secretary, and was then responsible for the setting up of a General Purposes Committee under his control.

This committee took charge of all Head Office work, including the literature department, and carried out their job in a very effective manner.

It was our late comrade’s ambition to organise the Party activity in such a way that every branch was linked up with Head Office by means of its officials. That all branch officials periodically attended meetings at Head Office to discuss difficulties and exchange ideas, under the personal supervision of the General Secretary.

Our comrade did not achieve his ambition, and to some extent this engendered in him a feeling of frustration.

He was a rigid disciplinarian and exacted from himself strict adherence to all rulings laid down by the Party, and further he expected the same from other comrades.

He often fell out with the more happy-go-lucky who were careless enough to transgress in these matters. In spite of this he was respected and admired by all.

He was forced by ill-health to relinquish the post of G.S. and later his seat on the E.C.

The last five or six years of his work were seriously marred by the complaint which brought about his death. Yet up to the beginning of this winter he filled one of the most arduous posts in the Party, namely, that of secretary of the Central Branch, in an efficient manner.

It can be written of him that he was a cheerful worker and a hard fighter. One who was always prepared to give more than he asked in return. We find it hard to replace men like him.

F. C. A.