Tribute to Molly

By Mandy Vere 3/4/2013

More often than not, the death of a 97-year-old doesn't come as much of a shock. But Molly Sayle was the very definition of "larger than life" and many of us are in shock.

I first met Molly in the Irish Centre. She would be there after a Troops Out meeting, laughing, arguing, holding forth, red hair flaming, and like a moth I was drawn to her flame. We worked together on the campaign against the Prevention of Terrorism Act, supporting the Irish in Britain who were being arrested, silenced and terrorised. As I got to know her I realised that this international solidarity work was part of a long continuum for Molly, stretching from the Spanish Civil War, through Vietnam, Ireland & Cuba to her recent support of the Palestinian cause. Molly had a gut instinct that steered her towards trouble, because she believed trouble needed to be made wherever there was injustice.

She loved to tell the story of visiting the US consulate in Liverpool, where a hapless official made the mistake of saying he didn't know anyone who objected to the Vietnam war and foolishly agreeing that Molly could bring a few people to meet him. The next day, using her trade union contacts, she went up to the building workers at the Royal Liverpool Hospital site and marched them all down to surround the Consulate. Like many of her adversaries he lived to regret the day he underestimated Molly Sayle. To hear Molly tell it, she was personally responsible for Harold Wilson keeping Britain out of Vietnam. And who am I to say otherwise?

Many of you knew her much longer than I. I never knew her beloved Joe, her husband, Alexei's father and Sylvia's uncle. But whenever we visited Parkgate, in typical mischievous fashion, she loved to tell me of her naughty weekends with Joe there. And we have all heard many stories of the other love of her life, for whom she would nearly burst with pride, her Lexi, who has immortalised her in his autobiography, "Stalin Ate My Homework".

Molly had a deep love of literature, she was very widely-read and would always seek out the human angle in a novel; the stories of ordinary people's lives fascinated her, she was always on the side of the down-trodden.

A life so rich, from her birth during the First World War, the "war to end all wars"… Oh that it had, and the young Malka Mendelson could have grown up in peace. But she was a woman not made for peace; she was a woman made for trouble and strife. She cried easily, fought readily and felt deeply for those suffering injustice. She was part of a long and noble tradition of radical, feisty, Jewish women, who would not put up and shut up, but would always speak out and act.

All of us here will have a story to tell about Molly and we will get to share them later at The Casa. Whether you know her from her trade union work, the Communist Party, her favourite watering hole at the Roscoe Head, October Books, her Qi Gong group, her University of the 3rd Age literature group, Ireland, Cuba or Palestine solidarity… or from caring for her since her stroke; whether you are a neighbour, friend or comrade, you will have been touched by her down-to-earth warmth, and her genuine interest in your lives. And Molly didn't just touch our lives, she rocked their foundations, challenged us, drove us up the wall and many, many times made us laugh. She was the oldest feminist I know, she was a friend to lesbians and gays, open-minded and young in outlook. She loved dancing, she loved the fresh green of the trees in Spring, she loved to feel the wind in her face, and like a true Leo she loved to be the centre of attention. When we realised as fellow Leos that our birthdays were almost exactly 40 years apart, we began our series of joint birthday parties, starting with a Joint Centenary when I was 30 and she 70. Sadly she didn't make it to her own Centenary, denying us all the pleasure of witnessing her returning the Queen's telegram.

In later life Molly's inability to get out and face the enemy head-on led to extreme frustration, but she could still be seen at the Breakfast for Palestine or out on wheelchair walks, and she loved to debate & discuss world affairs whenever possible. She always wanted to know what people were DOING about Gaza, about Syria, the NHS, the bloody Tories. She couldn't bear inaction. Molly loved a good argument, preferably with those who deserved to be argued with, but otherwise with whoever was to hand. So yes she was argumentative, cantankerous, unmanageable. One comrade, referring to the phrase used to describe Irish Republican women, called her "the most unmanageable revolutionary of them all", to Molly's great delight. She was contrary, volatile...

But she was my friend, and, for such a small woman, her death leaves a huge Molly-shaped hole which I can only try to fill by following the mantra another mutual friend reminded me of this week, Molly's mantra, expressed with a commanding passion, "You NEVER give up!".

May we take her words with us in whatever direction our endeavours lead us. Long live Molly!

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Sorry Comments Closed

Comment left by dianejansen on 3rd April, 2013 at 14:25
Mandy I never knew Molly but just read your lovely written tribute it brought tears to my eyes. What a fascinating lady and you will always have fond memories of her on you birthday x

Comment left by Sheila Coleman on 3rd April, 2013 at 14:47
Mandy, a beautiful tribute to an amazing woman. I remember you and Molly having a joint birthday party ( her 80th I think?) in the Irish Centre, Mount Pleasant. A great night. Molly never failed to inspire me whenever I spoke to hear. A legend in her lifetime, she will remain one in death.

Comment left by Lynne Seibold on 3rd April, 2013 at 23:17
Mandy how beautifully written. I did not know her personally but you have just made her live x

Comment left by Susan Murphy on 5th April, 2013 at 9:27
Thanks for a remarkable tribute to an amazing woman ~ I've seen and talked to her at Breakfasts for Palestine and other events ~ we will miss her, but be thankful for her life and inspiration.

Comment left by garry Haywood on 14th April, 2013 at 15:40
A great and fitting tribute, beautifully written and capturing the spirit of one liens great fighters.

Comment left by Xan on 12th July, 2013 at 16:47
I had the pleasure of looking after Molly during a stay in hospital, years ago. It's a testament to the woman that she made such an impression on my after all these years. A true loss.

Comment left by Steve on 7th March, 2016 at 0:16
I never met molly, the mother of Alexei, who lived below my mother in Lannoy Point. I look forward to writing a tribute to her, along the same lines Alexei used to describe the woman who lived above him in Lannoy Point, I apologise in advance thatay description will be more graphic.