A long-time campaigner against the expansion of Hinkley Point power station near Burnham-On-Sea has died after a sudden heart attack.
Crispin Aubrey, who was a journalist, author and campaigner, died on Friday at the age of 66.
He was the official spokesperson for the campaign group Stop Hinkley and the group announced his death with “huge sadness”.
The group’s Katherine Attwater told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Sunday: “The Stop Hinkley campaign is coming to terms with the news that their spokesperson Crispin Aubrey suffered a fatal heart attack on Friday afternoon in the midst of the preparations for a planned protest against Hinkley C next weekend.”
“Crispin played a key role in the preparations and was due to speak at the rally next Saturday. Crispin’s wife Sue, who is also part of the Stop Hinkley campaign, has bravely requested that the ‘show must go’ on because it’s what Crispin would have wanted.”
She added that the Aubreys were involved in the original protest against Hinkley C more than 20 years ago.
“Crispin took a lead role in the public enquiry and co-ordinated the campaign. Crispin was a life long campaigner and had been a journalist all his working life, starting at the Hampshire Chronicle and London’s Time Out magazine. He wrote widely on environmental issues and was committed to the promotion of renewable energy.”
“Crispin was a well-respected contributor to the Stop Hinkley campaign and to the fight against new nuclear in the UK.”
He came to national prominence when he was arrested under the Official Secrets Act in 1977 and his subsequent trial and the campaign around it led to a re-examination of the UK’s secrecy legislation.
Pictured: Top, Crispin with fellow protesters outside Hinkley Point during a 2010 protest against EDF Energy (photo Paul Glendell)
