Like so many of us, I have been grieving over our loss of Robin. I came to know both him and Frances very well, with never a fractious rather than joyous moment, when we were at Oxford and then, in London. And again, when we were at Sussex. As for so many others, he influenced how I thought and how I acted. Such as in 1960 and we both were at Balliol, and I was more into music than politics, asking me to sign a petition against hanging on which I did not need much persuading, but on which I had never thought of protesting, whereas he had. In his mild but firm manner, and by example, he was part of my own radicalisation.

But he also had a major early influence on my intellectual life. It was he who first drew my attention to the work of Stephen Hymer, and to his own on multinational companies. He had been invited to publish material on these in a Fabian paper and had misgivings about this but both suggested I do so and insisted that I use his work for it. Which I did, with a requisite credit to him. But the credit proved deeper and wider in the degree to which I thereafter pursued this, as in the case for Planning Agreements to render multinationals accountable, and on the degree to which state holding companies such as The National Enterprise Board could countervail them.

In the 70s, when Harold Wilson had near gelded Labour’s Economic Programme by making both Planning Agreements and NEB intervention in firms voluntary, Mike Ward approached me and asked whether the GLC could not implement them at a London level. To which I responded that it could, and of which an outcome was to be the GLC’s Industrial Strategy including the Greater London Enterprise Board. At which point I was asked who should direct it, and immediately suggested Robin. Who, of course, as well represented in several of the tributes to him, did so brilliantly. As not only in the case cited by Hilary of insisting that if furniture and other companies wanted public money they needed to plan – one of the principles of Planning Agreements – but also in engaging Mike Cooley and the whole philosophy of workers’ alternative plans on the Lucas model.

When I went into parliament I saw less of either Robin or Frances and less again when I resigned on seeing New Labour coming and having the alternative of working with Delors on policies seeking to realise economic and social cohesion in the EU. Several of these nonetheless echoed Robin’s and Mike’s concerns to empower local governments and local people. Such as the RECITE cities and regions initiative and a programme called ADAPT seeking to adapt the tacit knowledge and latent abilities of workers in traditional sectors into innovative products in health and environmental safeguards. Antonio Guterres, with whom I worked when he was head of government in Portugal from the mid 90’s also managed to persuade the European Council to adopt the principle of Innovation Agreements, i.e.- innovation-by-consent and based on recognising workers’ skills, which had been part of the GLEB strategy under Robin.

I cite these cases not to stress a first person role, but rather because they represent Robin’s ongoing influence in a manner which recollection of his work at the GLC alone does not. We can all recognise the degree to which a hegemonic neoliberalism in the EU under, especially, the influence of Merkel and Schäuble has been defeating feasible alternatives for Europe. But there also is the degree to which the lessons learned from the GLC and GLEB still are highly relevant to this. As well as for a future Labour government in which Jeremy Corbin and John McDonnell, strong supporters of both the London Industrial Strategy, and of Robin, when at the GLC, can well draw in an economic strategy which could be both national and regional as well as also people and social value based. None of which, however, can overshadow his personality, his generosity of spirit and deep sense of commitment to the wellbeing of others which, rightly, will remain with us not only as a memory but also as an ongoing inspiration.

When James Anderson and I were developing our Political Economy of Cities and Regions course with Irene Brueghel we called on Robin. His enthusiasm with our students and bright eyes and smile captured us. This was late sixties.

Robin, the late John Harrison (below) and the late Irene Brueghel , who was also employed in the Economic Policy Group, Popular Planning Unit, all taught in our School of Planning at the Architectural Association, the first planning school grounded in trade union and community and based on Marxist political economy, founded in both historical materialism and practice in working class campaigns. As well, Dave Wield and Adrian Atkinson worked with us and with the EPG & PPU. The late Doreen Massey worked with us from the very beginning as well with the GLC in GLEB. Marj Mayo did some teaching for us, and Louise Pankhurst, the first GLC Women’s Officer, had been one of our students. Our students produced plans working with the Peoples Plan for the Royal Docks. Before the GLC and ILEA were closed by Thatcher The AA Planning School was closed when after a right winger gained control of the AA. Robin made a special effort along with Mike Ward and Anthony Fletcher of the ILEA to move our planning school into a GLC/ILEA base as a London School of Planning for the people, but all was lost with the closures.

All these comrades were part of the Conference of Socialist Economists, and that wonderful organisation had been initiated by Robin Murray and Hugo Radice among others, Hugo another comrade associated with our Planning School. We were part of CSE from early days, active in the Regional and Housing groups along with Michael Edwards and others.

For the GLC, i was on the team put together by Hilary Wainwright to prepare and deliver educational material on London’s economy for trade union and community groups via the TUC,TGWU,and WEA in the Popular Planning Unit. That venture was led by John Harrison. I wrote the opening sections on the Capitol of Capital. I also wrote the Introduction to Robin Murray’s London Industrial Strategy, perhaps Ken’s most important document. As a delegate on Southwark Trades Council, I had written with Mike Geddes of Lambeth Trades Council, and with Bob Colenutt, the Trade Union Submission to The Coin Street Enquiry, and that document welcomed by Robin became one of the major sources of Ken’s new London policies. I had been a founding delegate for both North Southwark Community Development Group, and Joint Docklands Action Group.

I last met Robin as we were walking through the Coin Street Community Builders patch along the south bank, the ‘Peoples Republic of South Bank’ he called it, and Robin said that he always got a thrill when walking through there. Those were my comrades who initiated Coin Street, and they thought very highly of Robin and were proud of the role of Ken and the GLC.

I continue to tell the stories of the people’s campaigns across docklands and south bank in the context of neo-liberalism and its architecture, crisis and space. For decades now I have led LSE students in fieldwork there, and with Mel Evans did such for Doreen’s Open University course. It was on one these early days trips for the CSE that Robin came along and inspired with his questions. Robin’s contributions in political economy and for the GLC remain part of the story.

When James Anderson and I were developing our Political Economy of Cities and Regions course with Irene Brueghel we called on Robin. His enthusiasm with our students and bright eyes and smile captured us. This was late sixties.

Robin, the late John Harrison (below) and the late Irene Brueghel , who was also employed in the Economic Policy Group, Popular Planning Unit, all taught in our School of Planning at the Architectural Association, the first planning school grounded in trade union and community and based on Marxist political economy, founded in both historical materialism and practice in working class campaigns. As well, Dave Wield and Adrian Atkinson worked with us and with the EPG & PPU. The late Doreen Massey worked with us from the very beginning as well with the GLC in GLEB. Marj Mayo did some teaching for us, and Louise Pankhurst, the first GLC Women’s Officer, had been one of our students. Our students produced plans working with the Peoples Plan for the Royal Docks. Before the GLC and ILEA were closed by Thatcher The AA Planning School was closed when after a right winger gained control of the AA. Robin made a special effort along with Mike Ward and Anthony Fletcher of the ILEA to move our planning school into a GLC/ILEA base as a London School of Planning for the people, but all was lost with the closures.

All these comrades were part of the Conference of Socialist Economists, and that wonderful organisation had been initiated by Robin Murray and Hugo Radice among others, Hugo another comrade associated with our Planning School. We were part of CSE from early days, active in the Regional and Housing groups along with Michael Edwards and others.

For the GLC, i was on the team put together by Hilary Wainwright to prepare and deliver educational material on London’s economy for trade union and community groups via the TUC,TGWU,and WEA in the Popular Planning Unit. That venture was led by John Harrison. I wrote the opening sections on the Capitol of Capital. I also wrote the Introduction to Robin Murray’s London Industrial Strategy, perhaps Ken’s most important document. As a delegate on Southwark Trades Council, I had written with Mike Geddes of Lambeth Trades Council, and with Bob Colenutt, the Trade Union Submission to The Coin Street Enquiry, and that document welcomed by Robin became one of the major sources of Ken’s new London policies. I had been a founding delegate for both North Southwark Community Development Group, and Joint Docklands Action Group.

I last met Robin as we were walking through the Coin Street Community Builders patch along the south bank, the ‘Peoples Republic of South Bank’ he called it, and Robin said that he always got a thrill when walking through there. Those were my comrades who initiated Coin Street, and they thought very highly of Robin and were proud of the role of Ken and the GLC.

I continue to tell the stories of the people’s campaigns across docklands and south bank in the context of neo-liberalism and its architecture, crisis and space. For decades now I have led LSE students in fieldwork there, and with Mel Evans did such for Doreen’s Open University course. It was on one these early days trips for the CSE that Robin came along and inspired with his questions. Robin’s contributions in political economy and for the GLC remain part of the story.

onwards, Nick

When James Anderson and I were developing our Political Economy of Cities and Regions course with Irene Brueghel we called on Robin. His enthusiasm with our students and bright eyes and smile captured us. This was late sixties.

Robin, the late John Harrison (below) and the late Irene Brueghel , who was also employed in the Economic Policy Group, Popular Planning Unit, all taught in our School of Planning at the Architectural Association, the first planning school grounded in trade union and community and based on Marxist political economy, founded in both historical materialism and practice in working class campaigns. As well, Dave Wield and Adrian Atkinson worked with us and with the EPG & PPU. The late Doreen Massey worked with us from the very beginning as well with the GLC in GLEB. Marj Mayo did some teaching for us, and Louise Pankhurst, the first GLC Women’s Officer, had been one of our students. Our students produced plans working with the Peoples Plan for the Royal Docks. Before the GLC and ILEA were closed by Thatcher The AA Planning School was closed when after a right winger gained control of the AA. Robin made a special effort along with Mike Ward and Anthony Fletcher of the ILEA to move our planning school into a GLC/ILEA base as a London School of Planning for the people, but all was lost with the closures.

All these comrades were part of the Conference of Socialist Economists, and that wonderful organisation had been initiated by Robin Murray and Hugo Radice among others, Hugo another comrade associated with our Planning School. We were part of CSE from early days, active in the Regional and Housing groups along with Michael Edwards and others.

For the GLC, i was on the team put together by Hilary Wainwright to prepare and deliver educational material on London’s economy for trade union and community groups via the TUC,TGWU,and WEA in the Popular Planning Unit. That venture was led by John Harrison. I wrote the opening sections on the Capitol of Capital. I also wrote the Introduction to Robin Murray’s London Industrial Strategy, perhaps Ken’s most important document. As a delegate on Southwark Trades Council, I had written with Mike Geddes of Lambeth Trades Council, and with Bob Colenutt, the Trade Union Submission to The Coin Street Enquiry, and that document welcomed by Robin became one of the major sources of Ken’s new London policies. I had been a founding delegate for both North Southwark Community Development Group, and Joint Docklands Action Group.

I last met Robin as we were walking through the Coin Street Community Builders patch along the south bank, the ‘Peoples Republic of South Bank’ he called it, and Robin said that he always got a thrill when walking through there. Those were my comrades who initiated Coin Street, and they thought very highly of Robin and were proud of the role of Ken and the GLC.

I continue to tell the stories of the people’s campaigns across docklands and south bank in the context of neo-liberalism and its architecture, crisis and space. For decades now I have led LSE students in fieldwork there, and with Mel Evans did such for Doreen’s Open University course. It was on one these early days trips for the CSE that Robin came along and inspired with his questions. Robin’s contributions in political economy and for the GLC remain part of the story.

onwards, Nick

Thank you for this warm tribute to a great comrade. I am proud and grateful to have had Robin a mentor and a friend. Robin always dealt with my enthusiastic but naive youthful contributions with tolerance and kindness and with a succinct response which illuminated the world to me whether at Spokesman meetings or in his kitchen.

I am privileged to have known him.

My condolences to Frances

He was, in this way, an exemplary learner, and so a great teacher too. As Geoff observed, there are no big books by Robin though he surely could have written them. Instead, there’s this remarkable legacy of organizations, initiatives, standards and networks — which in themselves were modes of production entirely consistent with his research and outlook.

A lot can and should be said about his intellectual influences and his analytic disposition. But his approach to leadership also merits close study. He started or was at the start of seemingly countless things, though he never took credit, or amassed titles and offices. Instead, he delegated instinctively. The virtues and practice of subsidiarity were, for him, an absolute article of faith. I think this commitment was a source of radical energy but also a lightness because for all his building and success there was such a selfless modesty about it all.

And of course keeping him honest and forward-moving in every endeavour was his dearest Frances. What a wonder, these two people who had known each other since childhood. I know Frances’ art mattered greatly to Robin, and in turn helped to fill their lives with beauty but also maintain a freedom and independence of mind.

One memory I’ll forever treasure came some years ago when I visited Robin at his home and he was spending the afternoon with his grandson, Joe. Some innocent speculation about the aerodynamics of paper airplanes quickly turned into a full aeronautical rally that overtook his living room. And there with all the books and lovely posters and paintings, and lamps and light streaming through those big windows, we spent a happy hour making and remaking planes, and firing them across the room. It was Robin to a T — completely delighted to watch his grandson try one thing and then another, to take joy in figuring out on what might work better, to learn from Joe as he began to master the craft of it by trying and then trying again. This was love, learning and mutual endeavour and for me it was the man.

He was, in this way, an exemplary learner, and so a great teacher too. As Geoff observed, there are no big books by Robin though he surely could have written them. Instead, there’s this remarkable legacy of organizations, initiatives, standards and networks — which in themselves were modes of production entirely consistent with his research and outlook.

A lot can and should be said about his intellectual influences and his analytic disposition. But his approach to leadership also merits close study. He started or was at the start of seemingly countless things, though he never took credit, or amassed titles and offices. Instead, he delegated instinctively. The virtues and practice of subsidiarity were, for him, an absolute article of faith. I think this commitment was a source of radical energy but also a lightness because for all his building and success there was such a selfless modesty about it all.

And of course keeping him honest and forward-moving in every endeavour was his dearest Frances. What a wonder, these two people who had known each other since childhood. I know Frances’ art mattered greatly to Robin, and in turn helped to fill their lives with beauty but also maintain a freedom and independence of mind.

One memory I’ll forever treasure came some years ago when I visited Robin at his home and he was spending the afternoon with his grandson, Joe. Some innocent speculation about the aerodynamics of paper airplanes quickly turned into a full aeronautical rally that overtook his living room. And there with all the books and lovely posters and paintings, and lamps and light streaming through those big windows, we spent a happy hour making and remaking planes, and firing them across the room. It was Robin to a T — completely delighted to watch his grandson try one thing and then another, to take joy in figuring out on what might work better, to learn from Joe as he began to master the craft of it by trying and then trying again. This was love, learning and mutual endeavour and for me it was the man.

Robin, in my view, regarded local government as important – actually more important – than national government, it was sheer pleasure to travel with him, Michael Ward and others to Basildon, Crawley, Harlow, Stevenage, Reading, and other towns in the region (I think Robin also managed to recruit Dieppe into South East England), talking to council members and officers, all of whom thought Robin a god come to earth. ‘I could listen to Robin all day,’ was commonly heard afterwards in the members’ tea-rooms.

The big idea of the time was post-Fordism, or flexible specialization, of which Robin was an internationally renowned exponent. I will always remember a paper Robin wrote on post-Fordism in municipal park operations. As municipal finance tightened, he argued, local authorities had embraced the economics of mass production, in this case of the public landscape: bigger machines, fewer workers. As a result, a rich tradition of ornamental gardens, decorative public parks, carefully managed estate lawns and parkland (especially in the New Towns), as well as municipal nurseries where skilled horticultural workers produced national and local varieties of plants and flowers, was giving way to a one-size-fits-all municipal landscape shaped by the gang mower, and a proliferation of low-maintenance shrubbery. Something must be done he argued. And in time it was. Robin was right then and he was way ahead of his time. I learned so much from him; the world is a better place because of him, and he will be badly missed.