Belinda Pyke, who chaired Brussels Labour for more than ten years,
tragically passed away early on 31st March.
Belinda wore so many hats, and most of us who knew her in Brussels knew only some of them. She was born in Heswall on the Wirral. She had two brothers in the UK and happily joined a gathering of her many cousins each year in New England.
Being from Merseyside, it wasn’t surprising that she worked for a maritime transport trade union. She brought her commitment to improving people’s lives with her when she came to Brussels to serve in the Cabinets of Commissioner Bruce Millan on Regional Policy, and Neil Kinnock on Transport. Belinda then moved into the Commission services where she eventually became the Director for Migration and Mobility at the European Commission in DG Home.
The issues she dealt with there never left her and informed the campaigning she did for the rest of her life. Belinda never stopped caring and campaigning.
She was engaged in the Labour Party throughout, was Chair of Brussels Labour for over ten years and played a strong role in the lobby for us to regain overseas voting rights. After retirement she stood and campaigned in council elections in Warwickshire, doing the hard graft of canvassing and leafleting. She fundraised for voluntary organisations, not least through long-distance sponsored bike rides including for LEPRA.
Her concern about refugees and about the injustices faced by Palestinians never waned. She was a co-founder of Justice for Palestinians in Leamington Spa and attended their weekly vigils. She collapsed very suddenly on Thursday 26th March, while taking part in a Justice for Palestine meeting in Leamington Spa on the situation in the West Bank. Sadly she did not recover and her brother and nephews were with her in hospital when she died.
A great example to the rest of us, Belinda never gave up, and always put the needs of others before her own. We, her Brussels friends, former colleagues and Labour comrades owe her a great debt for her service – along with so many who never met her but whose plight she highlighted again and again…
Of course, there is much more to be said, but for now… Thank you Belinda