By Jane Ingham
Internationally renowned political cartoonist, Alan Hardman from Laycock, Keighley died in hospital on Thursday January 18, 2024 after a period of illness. Alan was proud of his Yorkshire roots having been born into a Barnsley mining family. He is known and admired for his brilliant socialist cartoons that could express in one image more than a thousand words.
Alan was, originally, a printer by trade who through his trade union activities in the 1960s and early 1970s was drawn to socialist ideas. In his youth (and, in fact, throughout his life) his dream was to be able to earn a living as an artist and sculptor but is passion for a society that would make life better for the many overshadowed that dream.
He had seen the poverty that many were living in and through his TU activity was angry about the pay and conditions of ordinary working class people. It was this that drove him to work towards a fair society rooted in socialist ideals. His work as a political cartoonist over more than 40 years produced literally thousands of brilliantly sharp cartoons that illustrated the greed of the ruling class both in the UK and internationally.
His cartoons appeared in British socialist newspapers, The Militant, The Socialist and numerous international socialist newspapers. It has also regularly appeared in a range of publications and books including work by journalist John Pilger. He produced a body of work that provides visual snapshots of the major political events from the 1970s through to the present day (always from a socialist perspective).
Alan had been working up until his recent illness on a book of his selected favourite cartoons covering a wide range of political issues and events – the Miners’ Strike, South Africa, the Middle East, the environment and the NHS to name but a few. His iconic cartoons from the miners’ strike are now being used to mark the 40th Anniversary of the strike and are still as fresh and relevant as when Alan produced them 40 years ago.
He died in the knowledge that his book Need Not Greed is now ready to be published this May 2024. It is of great sadness to those of us who knew, admired and loved this incredibly talented, insightful and warm hearted man that he did not get to see his finished book. However, it’s publication will be a major part of his legacy and a testament to his lifelong commitment to socialist change for the betterment of all. The book and its launch event this May will be an opportunity to celebrate Alan’s life and work.
At heart, Alan was a family man and he is survived by his wife Sue, his adult children Anna and Ben and his grandchildren.
Alan’s book Need Not Greed can be pre-ordered by emailing here: neednotgreed@email.com
Left Horizons carried a preview of Need Not Greed and an appreciation of Alan Hardman’s work in 2022, and it can be found here.
