JOURNALIST and historian Christopher Farman died from coronavirus on his 83rd birthday.

He passed away on Friday, May 29 at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, after contracting the virus.

He was unable to use a ventilator due to his emphysema.

Few knew of the state of Mr Farman’s lungs as he still played Squash regularly, returning to it aged 80 within six months of having his right knee repaired.

He also enjoyed long walks with friends he had known for over 50 years.

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Born in 1937, and brought up in Fulham, Mr Farman was a professional journalist and historian, spending most of his life in London and being published in The Guardian and other papers and periodicals.

After starting out as a reporter on the West London Observer, he went on to spend his life as a writer and historian.

His book, General Strike, May 1926 was published in 1972.

After working on The Illustrated London News and other magazines, in 1973, after getting married to Mary, he joined the staff of Time-Life Books, working as an editor on the British Empire, published jointly with the BBC.

The historian moved to Deddington near Banbury with his wife in 2004.

In 2014, Mr Farman became an invaluable member of the Oxford International Brigade Memorial Committee, set up to raise funds for a memorial in St Clements, Oxford dedicated to the 31 men and women who went to Spain to defend the democratically elected Popular Front Republican government during the civil war 1936-39.

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With local historians Valerie Rose and Liz Woolley, Mr Farman co-authored the popular No Other Way – Oxfordshire and the Spanish civil War 1936 -1939.

He also contributed much to the raising of over £30, 000 for the memorial, selling International Brigade Memorial Trust (IBMT) merchandise and otherwise providing vital work for the IBMT.

Mr Farman produced the script for Comrades Come Rally, a celebration of the International Brigade volunteers from Britain and Ireland.

Professional actors, and musicians and singers from Ireland, performed to the script which drew on the letters, poems and memoirs of the volunteers for liberty.

The event was held on March 8 at the well-known venue the Holywell Music Room in Oxford just two weeks before the Covid 19 lockdown.

Mr Farman was also a leading light in the North Oxfordshire Villages Labour Party.

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He was chairman from 2013 to 2019 and, apart from the usual canvassing, leafleting and ‘telling’ at polling stations, he often served behind the bar at fundraising events.

Mr Farman organised the very popular Seeing Red film shows for Labour Party members and ‘fellow travellers’, recruiting the free services of a Help the Aged projectionist.

Mr Farman will be remembered with great affection for his wit, good humoured conversation and boundless energy and enthusiasm for history, political debate and activism.

He leaves his wife, Mary and hundreds of friends and comrades who will miss him dearly.