My pal Brian Lightowler, who has died aged 93, was a journalist, writer and campaigner. His e book Corruption: Who Cares? (2003) set out finest apply in opposition to corruption, together with run nationwide “clear election” campaigns to keep away from vote-rigging. The “laboratory experiment” for these was in Queensland, Australia, in 1989, the place Brian then lived; it concerned all state MPs and church parishes declaring their help for a corruption-free Queensland.
In all this, Brian was motivated by his Christian religion, and by his involvement with the Ethical Re-Armament motion (MRA, now renamed Initiatives of Change, or IofC), which he first encountered at college. He noticed MRA as demonstrating that financial, social and worldwide change may very well be superior by way of the efforts of people. Its fast impact on him was a choice he made to apologise for his jealous behaviour in the direction of the president of a rowing membership following an argument between them.
Brian was born in Willesden, north-west London, to Maurice, who managed males’s outfitters, and Violet (nee Medhurst), a nanny. He grew to become head boy of the King’s grammar faculty in Peterborough, the place he was additionally captain of the rugby first XV. He received an exhibition to Peterhouse, Cambridge College, to check historical past.
From his faculty days on he was a eager mountaineer, as have been his dad and mom. He climbed Tryfan in Snowdonia when he was 15 and scaled Switzerland’s 4,506-metre Weisshorn, descending in time for his twenty first birthday. He wrote about his climbing experiences in his second e book, Summit Selection (2009).
On commencement Brian joined MRA in its worldwide campaigns within the UK and within the US from 1956. This took him to Atlanta, Georgia, and to Kentucky, the place the speaker of the state’s Home of Representatives was moved to apologise for abusive language to 5 members.
Returning to London in 1960, Brian joined the (now Chartered) Institute of Journalists, turning into vice-chair of its London department. He befriended international correspondents and information company reporters, together with Viktor Rodionov of the Soviet Financial Gazette. Because of the affect of Brian and MRA, Rodionov was subsequently reconciled with a German he had fought in opposition to on the Battle of Stalingrad.
Brian emigrated to Australia in August 1973 and married Lorna Barrett from Brisbane two months later. Over the next years they have been invited to a number of east Asian international locations by native IofC personnel who had attended research programs in Australia run by the couple. They thought of this a few of their most rewarding work.
Lorna survives him.
