The funeral of John Beasant will be held on 22nd September 2023 at St Mary’s Church Bridgwater at 1pm and afterwards at Sedgemoor Crematorium. John was Bridgwater Labour Party’s Parliamentary candidate in 1979 gaining 16,809 and coming second place to Tom King. Following his unsuccessful election campaign John went on to work in the diplomatic service in the South Pacific island of Vanuatu and as a press secretary to two commonwealth prime ministers and a Middle Eastern Sultan. He was also an author writing many controversial books, one which got him expelled from Oman after refusing to take a bribe not to publish! The book in question ‘Oman, The true Life Drama and intrigue of an Arab State’ (2002) went on to become his most popular book. His other books include Stalin’s Silver (1995), the Santo Rebellion (1984) and Shell Shock; The Secrets and Spin of an Oil Giant (2005).
John was born in July 1944 and died in August 2023 at the age of 79. During his adventurous life he was involved in the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa helping journalists escape from the racist state of Rhodesia, working on the way with Frelimo guerillas in neighbouring Mozambique and as a journalist he interviewed infamous politicians such as the Tory bigot Enoch Powell.
John lived in Bridgwater’s Castle Street from his retirement until his death. Donations are requested for the Gurkha Welfare Trust.
I am heart broken to lose this wonderful kind, generous and humble human being. John gave his whole life to making the world a better place and I always always felt a sense of peace when he was around. Rest in peace John. 🙏