16 Facts About Zelda Curtis

Zelda Curtis joined the Communist Party during the Second World War, and later worked for two news publications.

Zelda Curtis was employed by the Women's Committee of the Greater London Council, and established the Association of Greater London Older Women.

Zelda Curtis was born in London in December 1923 to Eastern European Jewish immigrants Ada and Manny Brown.

The association helped to form her independent socialist outlook which had its origins from her father and led to Zelda Curtis being curious about miners collecting money on the streets during the 1926 General Strike.

Zelda Curtis was employed by Labour Monthly as the publications's managing editor, introducing a cultural section to the magazine, and gave her encouragement to young writers.

Zelda Curtis was drawn away from the Communist Party when her feminist views took priority: Curtis was active in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Anti-Apartheid, and worked with politician George Galloway in the War on Want charity.

Zelda Curtis made a return to local community politics when she joined The East End News in 1981.

Zelda Curtis was employed by the Camden Task Force as a community development worker in 1982 and provided information to the Camden Pensioners and Trades Union Association.

Gerry died when she was 60 and Zelda Curtis was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Zelda Curtis was co-opted as a member of the Women's Committee of the Greater London Council between 1984 and 1985, where her group was instructed to investigate the Council's Forum for the Elderly's attitude towards issues relating to women.

Zelda Curtis became a paid employee of the Pensioner's Link in 1984 and established the Association of Greater London Older Women as well as serving on the Islington Women's Committee.

Zelda Curtis flew to the United States in 1995 to make a Channel 4 Documentary on the Grey Panther movement entitled People First: Grey Power, and conducted the final interview with the group's founder Maggie Kuhn.

Zelda Curtis wrote pamphlets and articles and frequently made broadcasts concerning women's rights and pensions.

Zelda Curtis taught public speaking techniques to Tanzania's Maasai warriors and edited the 1999 book Life After Work: Stories of Freedom, Opportunity and Change.

Zelda Curtis participated in experimental treatments to help her deal with Parkinson's disease and trained older people to use media resources.

Zelda Curtis was survived by her two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.