Rick Seccombe obituary

The Guardian

29-01-2025

My partner Rick Seccombe, who has died of oesophageal cancer aged 74, lived his life according to his convictions and was known for his kindness and generosity. He was a radical bookseller and community activist, committed to working to bring about change. He campaigned for CND and supported nonviolent direct action against American cruise missiles stationed in the UK in the 1980s.
In 1990 he co-founded the One World festival in New Mills, Derbyshire, dedicated to international peace and environmental issues. Until recently he was a trustee of the Omega Research Foundation, which tracks the development and trade of weapons and equipment misused for torture.
He was also a staunch environmentalist long before the world started talking about climate change, recycling and sustainability. A vegetarian, Rick gardened organically for decades and was involved in local initiatives, including setting up and becoming the first secretary of the New Mills Allotment and Gardening Society in 2005.
Rick was born in Manchester, to Mary (nee Chrisp), a teacher, and Geoffrey Seccombe, an electrical engineer. He went to De La Salle grammar school in Salford, and then to St Ignatius school in Stamford Hill, London; while he was a student at Manchester University, studying chemistry and metallurgy in the late 1960s, he was inspired by progressive ideas.
We met in Manchester in the 80s. After university Rick worked in co-operatives and not-for-profit organisations. In the 70s he became involved in the collective that developed the Grass Roots radical bookshop in Manchester, which was a regional leader in addressing race, gender and class politics.
Grass Roots became the largest such establishment outside London. He later joined the Scottish and Northern Book Distribution co-operative and in 1990 he co-founded Frontline Books in Manchester. In 2019 he also co-founded the Radical History Bookselling Project.
In 1988 we settled in New Mills, Derbyshire. Rick worked for more than 20 years as the administrator at both High Peak Community Arts in New Mills and the Manchester Area Resource Centre, community organisations that rely on excellent business skills to survive. He was described as 'the rock around which others could safely navigate the highs and lows', keeping the show on the road through challenging times.
Rick led an active life. He enjoyed reading, cycling and walking. After receiving a terminal diagnosis, it was a measure of his outlook on life that in the year that followed he said he felt fortunate to have reached the age he had in good health.
He is survived by me, our children, Nic and Isla, and his brother, Pete.