Anti War Activist Still Going Strong at 106

Hetty Bower has lived through two world wars and was driven to campaign for peace when at nine years old she was confronted with the horrific reality of World War One, when the wounded soldiers started to come home.

On Remembrance Sunday she said in an interview with newscaster Jon Snow: "I was very patriotic and waved to the men as they set off. It was only when the first wounded started coming back that I have any really, really vivid memory of thinking: 'I don’t like this.'"

It was when Hitler went too far and broke his word that Hetty felt the call to "do something about it".

Since then Hetty has campaigned for peace all her life and only last month took part in a Stop the War coalition demonstration. She asked: "What sane person could be pro-war?" and affirmed that she would be taking part in demonstrations against war "as long as my legs will take me".

To Hetty Remembrance Sunday means "the futility of war. The waste. The money spent on arms research." Her response to the problem of war is to tackle the root causes: for example the events leading up to the emergence of Colonel Gaddafi. Mrs Bower has a thoughtful solution as always in her long and interesting life.

She was raised in Dalston North London the daughter of a politically liberal Orthodox Jew who did not believe in women participating in politics. She and her family enjoyed classical music while sheltering under their solid table during air raids and her sister secretly attended suffragette meetings at Toynbee Hall then returning home to share her news with her.

In 1923 Hetty joined the Labour Party and a year later the Independent Labour Party where she met, not only Barbara Betts later Barbara Castle but Reg Bower with whom she enjoyed a very happy marriage over 70 years.

Before World War II she worked for Kino Film a progressive film documentary company. During the war, with two young daughters, Hetty worked as a volunteer to help Czech refugees.

She applied to teach after the war but was turned down she says probably because of her beliefs in progressive education so went on to become a school secretary at her children's school.

Hetty continues to support CND, accompanied by daughters Celia and Margaret and she enjoys walking and her lifelong love of music. She lives her life as an advocate for peace.

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