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John A. Lee

A charismatic ex-soldier, orator and propagandist, John A. Lee was a dynamic figure in the Labour Party from the 1920s until 1940, when he was expelled for attacking the leadership of M.J. Savage.

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Today in History

27 December

1987 Rewi Alley dies

Rewi Alley, friend of China, died of heart failure and cerebral thrombosis at his Beijing residence. Earlier in the month Alley had celebrated his 90th birthday with the Communist Party leader, Zhao Ziyang.

Alley went to China in 1927 and ended up dedicating 60 years of his life to his adopted country, organising thousands of industrial co-operatives and pioneering technical training schools.

In accordance with his will, his ashes were scattered in Gansu Province, where the Shandan school he had led had recently been rebuilt.