On November 28, Harry Leslie Smith passed away at the age of 96. Last year, when I discovered Harry on Twitter, I didn’t know of him. After following him I learned how well- known and admired he is in the UK, Canada – around the world. Over the year, on Twitter, we had a few sweet exchanges, despite the fact that he has hundreds of thousands of followers. Real followers who too are dedicated to righting the wrongs of this world. But Harry is unique. Fearless and outspoken, he voiced his opinions and took on his detractors. His story is powerful: poverty, starvation, war, finding love, children, losing his love and dedicating his life to helping those who have no representation, no one to advocate for them. He is a remarkable person and I hope and I pray that I, and others, take up the baton and continue his work. I think that would be what Harry would want most of all. It is presumptuous of me, but I do think that’s on track.

I wrote this piece last year when I first made Harry’s “acquaintance.” It seems a bit naive now that I know more about him. I am republishing it nevertheless, lest we forget those among us who are humble and so so brave. In loving memory, Clare

From December 25, 2017:

Holiday Wishes & I’m Just Wild about Harry!

Yuletide wishes & happy festivities to everyone! I hope your holiday is full of love and joy and peace. Now and always.

I was on Twitter this morning, composing a holiday greeting, and on my feed I saw a sweet tweet from a gentleman in England: Harry Leslie Smith. The tweet read: 

“Happy Christmas to all my friends and followers. Love will triumph even in this darkness, if we show the courage of compassion to our fellow travelers. All the best, Harry.” I went to his home page and learned that Harry is a remarkable man. Nearly 95, he has decided that, “I’m spending the last years of my life touring the refugee hot spots of the world to find a solution to this crisis…” How fantastic is that? Harry’s profile reads: “Survivor of the Great Depression, RAF veteran Activist for the Welfare State Author of Harry’s Last Stand Love Among the Ruins, 1923 & The Empress of Australia…”

I hope I’m like that if I make it to 95 – but why wait? I think I will take a leaf out of Harry’s book and start…now. All that courage, concern, heart, resilience and joy. It’s admirable stuff. I remember that The New Yorker magazine used to have mini-columns (maybe it still does), that were usually at the end of an article where some space needed to be filled. There was: “Block that Metaphor!” and “There’ll Always Be an England.” Of course, they were clever and funny, and I am thinking of Harry, but more in connection to the song, “There’ll Always Be an England,” which I vaguely know. It embodies British pluck and courage even in the midst of the “darkness” to which Harry refers.

So dear friends, have a happy and raise a glass to Harry, to yourselves, your loved ones, and to bravery. 

Cheers!

Clare Irwin