I have fond memories of Wilko Johnson (obituary, 24 November) as a student activist and a somewhat unorthodox secretary and chairman of the Newcastle University Socialist Society. He came north as a member of the Young Communist League but tore up his party card after a Vietnam war demonstration in Sheffield, where he felt the Communist party stewards had been too eager to assist the police.
On another occasion, travelling back from a demonstration on a bus organised by the Socialist Labour League, he was evicted at Scotch Corner after criticising elements of a speech made by its leader, Gerry Healy.
