In memory of Rita Pankhurst

Earlier this week I heard the very sad news that Rita Pankhurst had passed away. Last night in Bristol, I spoke about Sylvia Pankhurst, Rita Pankhurst's mother-in-law, for the first time since hearing the news and dedicated my talk to her memory. This is an expanded version of what I said last night.

I did not know Rita Pankhurst well but I met her on all the occasions that I was kindly invited to meet with her and her husband, the late Professor Richard Pankhurst, Sylvia's son, at their London home to talk about Sylvia. Rita was always extremely kind to me as I know she was to all the other researchers of the Pankhurst family. Jacqueline Mulhallen, a dear friend and comrade of mine who knew Rita better and for longer than me, has written a moving tribute to her.

Every time I visited Rita and Richard, they made me feel very welcome and were incredibly generous with their time and the memories that they shared of Sylvia. In the same year I published my biography of Sylvia, Rita and Richard published a joint biography, Ethiopian Reminiscences: Early Days (Tsehai Publishers, 2013). It is a fascinating book in which they take turns to relay their stories. It begins with their childhoods: Richard as the son of Sylvia Pankhurst growing up in the midst of anti-fascist activity in Woodford, Rita as a young Romanian who, because she was Jewish, had to flee Nazi persecution, settling in Britain. One of the endearing aspects of the book is the way in which the individual stories gradually become intertwined. It's a beautiful story of love and shared endeavour.

Rita was a librarian. She was the University Librarian in Addis Ababa, and played an important role in the establishment of the Fawcett Library in London. She was therefore involved in trying to preserve the words of those whose stories often face marginalisation and the threat of erasure. Both she and her husband were passionately committed to Ethiopian history and culture, to women's history and of course to the memory of Sylvia Pankhurst.

I send my deepest condolences to the Pankhurst family and all who were friends with Rita Pankhurst.

The front cover of Ethiopian Reminiscences. The photograph shows Richard and Rita Pankhurst on their wedding day with Sylvia Pankhurst and their "best men" Mengistu Lemma and Afewerk Tekle.