Hull in the road
One of Yorkshire's most determined and inspiring Gypsy advocates has died at the young age of 45. John Mercer was heavily involved in supporting roadside Gypsy and Traveller families living in and around Hull and was heavily involved in the city’s Gypsy and Traveller exchange.
“He was a lovely man,” says Elaine Bates, Gypsy and Traveller community development worker at the Hull Gypsy and Traveller Exchange. “He was very dedicated and always put other people first. He’d help anybody and was upset that he was forced to settle by ill health.”
Bates remembered how John would turn up at evictions of roadside Gypsy families and confront the authorities with his extensive knowledge of the law. “He’d be there with his laptop and books and scare the police with his better knowledge of the law”, she remembers. Members of the Hull Gypsy and Traveller community say that there struggle for equality will be badly affected by the death of their most knowledgeable and determined advocate. John finally lost his long battle with cancer earlier this month.
The son of another formidable Gypsy rights activist Peter Mercer MBE, John once described why he dedicated his life to the community after reading an article in a local magazine entitled “End of the Road”.
“Knowing the passion that my Father has for the Gypsy & Traveller culture and how he has worked for many years promoting education, welfare and civil rights, for Gypsies & Travellers in Britain, and abroad, I found this statement very serious and extremely disheartening.”
“I immediately got my trailer ready for the road. I wanted to see for myself, if the statement “End of the Road”, was a forecast of what is in store for the Gypsy & Traveller culture. So myself and my 9 year old son, Aidan, took to the road, making contact with several transient Gypsy & Traveller families. Highly mobile Gypsies, Travellers and Irish Travellers, living on the borders of urban society.”
“Staying with one mobile group I witnessed the deliberate hardships put upon these people, by a society that publicly prides itself on tolerance and cultural preservation. Moving from place to place, setting up camp after camp, it was obvious that many members of the public did not welcome this culture. We were faced with racial abuse, violence and wilful vandalism of our trailers.”
He added: “Prejudice against Gypsies and Travellers needs to be addressed, or the race and culture, which is centuries old, could be lost forever, and will become another extinct flower in Britain’s own cultural garden.” The Gypsy and Traveller community of the north-east is today mourning the extinction of one particularly powerful wildflower which has been cut down far too soon.
John Mercer is survived by his partner Kerry and his seven children.
John Mercer’s funeral and interment will take place at 2.30pm at Northern Cemetary, Chanterlands Avenue, Hull on Thursday 17th September 2009. The family have requested no flowers but donations if desired to chosen charities - a collection plate will be at the service.
Should you need any further details directions, please contact the Hull Gypsy and Traveller Exchange on 01482 441002