Colin Ward- Anarchist 1924-2010- A Seed Beneath The Snow

‘You may think in describing anarchism as a theory of organisation I am propounding a deliberate paradox: ‘anarchy’ you may consider to be, by definition, the opposite of organisation. In fact, however, ‘anarchy’ means the absence of government, the absence of authority'

I was sad to read that Colin Ward died last month, as I earned my living from organising Self Build Housing Groups in the eighties and early 1990's which only reinforced my growing Libertarianism, when confronted with MPs, Local Authorities and 'Town Planners' who thought Self Building was an anathema to State and Corporate provision of housing.

When a good proportion of the population were bombed out of housing in the immediate post war period, and the State's response was to pass the Planning Acts that are today strangling and distorting the Housing Market. Ward was supporting squatters and advocating the building of alternative housing systems such as Pre Fabs.

He was an admirer of Walter Segal whose designs made best use of difficult land.

We should preserve the memory of such men who fought such a rear guard action against the early Authoritarian Welfare State.