Alice Searle has been a force of nature within the Salford community, igniting the Friends of Kersal Moor to run annual events and talks related to the historic green protected space, while ensuring a fitting monument to the Chartists was sited on the Moor.
Alice was also a director of Mary Burns Community Group, which created the Bury New Road Heritage Project, published the award-winning Salford Star and ran numerous community media events all over Greater Manchester.
Alice wrote two sold-out books on Kersal Moor, led the local community to win concessions from Salford City Football Club as the Moor Lane stadium was expanded, and, as part of the Bury New Road project, produced an interactive map of Kersal Moor, encouraging people to enjoy the footsteps of the original Artisan Naturalists of Prestwich, pioneers of working class botany. She was also a force in creating the Agecroft Colliery memorial on Agecroft Road in Salford.
A massive advocate for feminism, socialism, environmentalism and humanity, Alice initiated the Pin Project to help the children of AIDS victims in South Africa, and taught all over the Pacific, from Fiji to Tuvalu.
“Alice was an incredible, amazing woman, always standing up for what she believed, in a very gentle but fiercely militant manner” says Stephen Kingston, director of Mary Burns Community Group “She stood for world justice but also for people to enjoy what is on their own doorsteps – nature’s beauty and the beauty of history and heritage. The community has lost a real Salford Star…”
Before her passing, Mary Burns Community Group produced a free 56-page booklet, Alice In Salford Isolationland, to commemorate five years since the initial coronavirus lockdown. During the crisis, Alice wrote a weekly diary published on the Salford Star website, telling of her hopes and anxieties as events unfolded. Her writings give an insight into what a remarkable woman she was, while her observations will resonate with many of those who lived through the pandemic.
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I knew Alice and her work for many years and I was impressed with her knowledge , her abilities and her achievement as Stephen says in a mild but militant manner. She was an incredible force of nature and politics and a phenomenal woman.. I feel privileged to have known her.
What a woman
Sharon and I only knew Alice in the last few years as we lived along Moor Lane from her. We are peace activists but not in the league of Alice, she had such wonderful knowledge and encouragement for us and the local CND peace groups and attended meetings when she could. A truely wonderful person who will be sorely missed.
Such sad news. I worked with Alice for many years, she was a committed and effective campaigner, a great support for anyone who needed help and a kind and compassionate person! She will be sorely missed