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Linda McCartney 1941-1998 |
| It was on a programme of the Austrian ‘Blue Danube Radio’ some years ago that I came across Linda and Paul McCartney as vegetarian activists. I was most impressed by the passionate way in which they promoted the vegetarian idea. ‘Goodbye and go veggi!’ was their last sentence.
From the same Austrian radio station I heard the unexpected news that Linda McCartney had died loosing the battle against cancer. Like all vegetarians around the globe I was filled with sadness and grief, knowing that the vegetarian cause has lost a great friend. The following article about Linda has been published in the 'Vegetarian’(magazine of The Vegetarian Society UK), Summer 1998. - SDL |
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Lady Linda McCartney 1941 - 1998
The unexpected news of the death of our Patron was greeted with a mixture of disbelief and great sadness, not only by vegetarians and those connected with the society but also by many other people all over he world. Above all else, the cause of vegetarianism has lost a great friend. The realisation quickly dawned that, arguably the highest profile vegetarian of all certainly one of its chief advocates and practitioners, had lost her brave battle against cancer. Linda was a woman with a vision, a dedicated and passionate vegetarian, an inspiration. She was a figurehead not only for The Vegetarian Society, but also for the entire vegetarian movement. The media for days was dominated by Linda McCartney’s untimely passing, the obituary pages contained details of a life punctuated by so many notable achievements: accomplished photographer, Beatle wife, mother, and ever-present source of support and encouragement to husband Paul. It bears true testimony to Linda’s contribution that perhaps she will be best remembered for her fervent and tireless front-line work on behalf of vegetarianism, animal rights and environmental issues. Along with Paul, at almost every opportunity she used her fame and the constant gaze of the public spotlight to promote all three positively and strenuously. Above all, Linda was a woman who was well-liked and gave so much. Linda McCartney can take a lot of the credit for bringing vegetarianism firmly into the mainstream in the UK. She helped change people’s attitudes to vegetarianism, making vegetarian convenience food accessible to all and a familiar sight on supermarkets shelves, as it had never been before. Right from the beginning she remarked, "I’m making food for all taste buds. It’s my greatest hope to make this new food available in every country in the world. I want to create tasty meatless alternatives for every form of flesh that is sold, from roast joints to smoked salmon, the lot, so that people can enjoy the taste but nothing has to suffer for their appetite." That’s the aim. It’s a long, long battle, but if you stop to really think about how meat gets to a plate then this battle has to be worth it.’ By her own admittance, she didn’t enter the food industry for profit she could arguably have made a lot more money from other pursuits. Money was never the motivation, but rather a desire to "save animals from cruelty". As Paul was to remark, "A less likely business woman you could not hope to meet", rather, she was a person who was driven by principle, passion and compassion, stating, "vegetarianism isn’t a business for me, rather a mission". The 'mission' began in 1991 following on from the success of her first culinary literary outing, Linda McCartney’s Home Cooking (1989). The Linda McCartney brand has now developed into a £38 million a year enterprise, many millions of meals are produced every year, 23 products in all, with plans to expand. Her pioneering vision made other manufacturers 'sit up' and realise the growth in the popularity of vegetarianism and just what a massive potential market now existed. Many were to produce their own dedicated ready-made meals, with typical self-effacing modesty she said, ‘Great now can I retire?’ Linda’s involvement had a catalytic affect that led to an explosion in dedicated vegetarian foods available in the high street. It was through her best-selling books that Linda McCartney was also to take vegetarian food into people’s homes, with Linda’s Kitchen (1995) selling well over 400,000 copies, once again exposing the popularity of the meat-free life, encouraging many publishers to follow suit. Neverfearful of derision by the press, in December 1995, the McCartneys paid £3,000 to save a 28lb turkey from the Christmas dinner table. Previously she had sent veggie hampers to the women at Greenham Common and food products to the people of war-torn Bosnia. On the massive growth of the McCartney brand as a household name in food, Paul commented, "How many women can you think of who would single-handedly take on the Meat and Livestock Commission, risk being laughed at, and yet succeed?" Vegetarians for well over 20 years, Paul and Linda McCartney became Patrons of The Vegetarian Society in May 1995, and this year’s National Vegetarian Week celebrations will be dedicated to Linda’s memory her achievements and tireless work an behalf of vegetarianism. We would wish to echo the sentiments of Paul McCartney in his statement; "She was unique and the world is a better place for knowing her. The tribute she would have liked best would be for people to go vegetarian." Never to be forgotten, her contribution to vegetarianism should not be understated, Linda McCartney will be sadly missed. From: The Vegetarian, Summer ‘98
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