Expat rights champion dies
Dedicated campaigner Brian Cave has died after a short but courageous battle against cancer and will be remembered across Europe for his work helping British expats.
DEDICATED campaigner Brian Cave has died after a short but courageous battle against cancer and will be remembered across Europe for his work helping British expats.
The 85-year-old retired teacher was determined to protect the rights of UK citizens living in European Union member states on issues such as the exportation of social security benefits for elderly and disabled people, the controversial loss of the winter fuel payment under an allegedly rigged ‘temperature test’, and votes for life for all Brits.
After the Brexit referendum in 2016, Brian, who lived with his wife Helen in France, was concerned expats living in the EU were the most at risk of losing out – especially as many did not even get to vote in the poll because current rules deny a voice after 15 years of leaving the UK.
He was a leading member of the Votes for All Expat Brits pressure group and after the ‘leave’ vote in the Brexit poll actively supported the British in Europe alliance representing UK citizens resident in the remaining 27 EU member countries.
Quoted many times in the British press and English newspapers in Spain, including CBNews; he travelled to Brussels in 2013 to successfully petition EU Commissioner Viviene Reding about disenfranchisement – it saw then Prime Minister David Cameron include a ‘votes for life’ promise in the Conservative manifesto and it remains a Tory pledge.
Costa Blanca-based campaigner and Spanish spokesman for European citizens’ rights group ECREU, Margaret Hales regularly corresponded with Brian and first met him on the Brussels trip.
“I quickly learned that Brian had been campaigning for rights for British citizens living in France, throughout the EU, and across the world for a number of years, on pensions, frozen pensions, rights to vote, and the winter fuel allowance.
“He was a consummate networker and a great team player. His contacts were not just in Europe but with Brits across the world. We all regarded him as a friend; he worked with and encouraged the talents of us all, always focussed on the ultimate goal.
“He was deeply affected by the outcome of the referendum but encouraged us to set depression aside and start yet another campaign via ECREU – Expat Citizens Rights in the EU. He was working with the group and British in right to the end of his life.”
Roger Boaden, who worked within the top ranks of the Conservative Party for over 30 years and also an ECREU member, said: Brian did “an amazing job of fighting for our rights on so many fronts”.
He added: “We will all miss your skills, your wisdom, and your campaigning zeal...I’m proud to have known you, you were a gentle gentleman, and I will honour your legacy by never giving up fighting for our rights.”