Three giants of the vegetarian/vegan movement

Three giants of the vegetarian/vegan movement passed away within the space of three months in late 2004 and early 2005. I am privileged to have known all three, two of them well enough to have counted them among my friends, and I would like to summarise and reflect upon their achievements here.

Neville Hall, who died on 6^th December 2004 aged 94, was a former President of The Vegetarian Society, and was instrumental in the creation of the Society through the amalgamation of the London and Manchester Societies in 1969. For over 30 years he was President and Chairman of Homes for Elderly Vegetarians, later known as the Vegetarian Housing Association, which offered accommodation to elderly vegetarians and vegans in its sheltered homes in Hastings and Colwyn Bay. Neville was also a founder member of the Humane Research Trust - a charity which seeks alternatives to the use of animals in medical research.

Arthur Ling, who died on 18^th January 2005 aged 85, became a vegan at the age of seven and went on to become President and an Honorary Patron of The Vegan Society.  However, he will be best remembered as the co-founder and long term manager of Plamil Foods Limited, the first British company to manufacture ‘soya milk’ and a forerunner in the production of other vegan convenience foods including confectionery and non-dairy mayonnaise.  In the late 1980s Plamil organised two half-marathon races for vegetarians and vegans and I was fortunate enough to compete in both events.  Arthur took a particular interest in the health of vegan infants and children, and Plamil’s Vegan Infants Case Histories booklet gave valuable reassurance to parents wishing to rear their children on a vegan diet.  He was often to be seen running the Plamil stall at vegan and cruelty-free fairs even in his 80s.  Arthur was a proud and determined man, totally dedicated to veganism to the end of his life.

Maxwell Lee, who died on 3^rd March 2005 aged 73, served the vegetarian movement for more than 50 years, holding senior positions within The Vegetarian Society, the European Vegetarian Union and the International Vegetarian Union during that time.  He was an outstanding ambassador for vegetarianism, taking the vegetarian message worldwide through speaking tours and international conferences.  At the time of his death he was still active on the Council of The Vegetarian Society and a trustee of The Vegetarian Charity - a trust providing grants to young people to promote vegetarianism.  In the late 1980s the VSUK Reform Group sought to modernise The Vegetarian Society.  I recall Maxwell, who was regarded by many as an obstacle to reform, attending one of the group’s meetings and arguing his case, despite being in a minority of one!  It is testimony to his dedication to the cause that he was able to move with the times, remaining at the heart of the vegetarian movement whilst many another came and went.

Each of these three men made an outstanding contribution to the vegetarian/vegan movement, showing remarkable commitment to a cause that they believed in so strongly. Theirs is a hard act to follow, but we can pay them no greater tribute than by helping to realise their aim of a truly compassionate world.

Paul Appleby, March 2005

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This page created 27 March 2005 by Paul Appleby.