Who Was Harry Cowley?

By Sarah Hutchings

A family reunion marked the reprint of QueenSpark's 'Who Was Harry Cowley?'.

The chimney sweep turned political activist was born at 33 Lincoln Street in Hanover. Harry campaigned for traders' rights at the Open Market, fought against Mosley's fascists and founded the Brighton Vigilantes - the city's first squatters' rights group. The man who became known locally as 'The Guv'nor' died in 1971 and was laid in state in St Peter's Church.

St Peter's Church provided the location for the photoshoot that marked the second reprint of the book. Harry's only living child, Abe Cowley (in white) bears a striking resemblance to his father. He was joined by his daughter Lorraine Perrin, her two daughters and other members of the family - some meeting for the first time.