Kevin Bean

By AM Saturday, February 8, 2025

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Sue Bean 🏴 Kevin was born on the 14th of February 1955 to Margaret Mary (Madge ) Bean née McGowan and Aalan Harold Bean in All Saints hospital in Chatham in Kent where twenty two years later our own first child was born.

Kevin Bean with his son, James Joseph.

Kevin grew up in Chatham and at the age of eighteen he moved to Leicester to attend the university. I had also moved to Leicester with my family and was working in a shoe factory. It was through our political activity that we first met. As Liam O'Ruairc mentioned, Kevin was a member of Militant. He was very actively involved with Militant for a number of years in his earlier days. I wasn't a member of Militant and leaned more towards the C. P. We were both committed Socialists and actively involved in the class struggle and our commitment to a thirty two counties socialist Republic of Ireland. We were always at meetings on marches and picket lines.

After the children came along we were still actively involved: we would be on marches with the children in tow. From an early age they would march around shouting "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, out, out, out." We had them well trained.

Kevin and I both wore James Connelly badges on our coats and when we saw Kevin in the Chapel of Rest I pinned his James Connelly badge to his jacket together with his Easter Lily, Starry Plough and hammer and sickle badges.

Liam mentioned the fact that Kevin liked Beethoven,  and indeed he did like classical music but he also liked all different kinds of music. He liked Waylon Jennings, Jim Reeves, the Clash, the Pogues, Madness, the Police, all kinds of music. There was always music playing in our house and in the car when we went on our many travels.

We made many trips to Brittas and stayed with Kevin's Nanny Gowan and later with Aunt Carmel and Uncle Mick. It wasn't just to County Dublin that we went, we travelled frequently to many different parts of Ireland, both sides of the border. It was always the dream to live in Ireland but sadly that didn't happen.

Liam mentioned the fact that Brendan Hughes was fond of Kevin; and we too were fond of Brendan. Anthony and Brendan came to stay with us here in Colne. I remember them both standing in our back yard and looking out over the gate and Brendan saying how it reminded him of the old Lower Falls. They were both very welcome here and we were all greatly saddened when Brendan passed away.

Kevin was always reading and there were always newspapers all over the house. Kevin would sit in the chair by the front window completely engrossed in his paper and completely oblivious to the chaos of family life going on all around him.

Kevin could be very funny and used to smile and laugh a lot. He loved watching Father Ted and would laugh so much he would nearly choke.

Kevin loved football, rugby, hurling and gaelic football. He was a life long Gillingham supporter and was most incensed when during the last election campaign Starmer and Rayner visited the Priest Field stadium. We placed Kevin's Gillingham scarf inside his coffin and another one on top of it.

Since Kevin's passing many people have written about him online but some of the things that have been written are not at all accurate. It has been said that Kevin's father's side of the family "the Beans" had Irish connections. This isn't the case at all. Kevin's father's side of the family had no Irish links at all. They never claimed to have or wanted to have.

Another curious thing is that it has been claimed that Kevin was a connoisseur of fine wines but none of his family recall Kevin drinking wine let alone being a connoisseur. Kevin loved porter, beer and spirits. He loved Guinness, London Pride and Speckled Hen - and whisky of course.

Others have expressed surprise that Kevin wanted a Catholic funeral but all his family always knew Kevin would want this. We were married in the Catholic Church in Leicester, our children attended the Catholic school and made all the sacraments. Kevin liked Mass, especially a sung Latin Mass. He quite often went to Mass at the Catholic Cathedral (know as Paddy's wigwam). Kevin was actually incredibly knowledgeable about the church and I used to tease him that he should have been a priest he was so clued up. Being a Catholic though isn't necessarily about being devout or even believing in the teachings, it's just as much about it being a part of our heritage, our culture and our identity. And I know this is what Kevin thought too. Liam is right about Kevin's funeral, he would definitely have preferred Missa Solemnis.

Kevin's father left the family home when Kevin was about five years old and his mother raised Kevin and his sister Pat alone. Kevin thought the world of his mother and her passing so suddenly and tragically had a massive impact on Kevin that lasted all of his life. He dedicated his book The New Politics Of Sinn Fein to her.

Myself, our children and grandchildren along with Kevin's sister and cousins will take Kevin's ashes back to Ireland where they will be scattered in Brittas and Bohernabreena. These were always Kevin's favourite places where he spent all his childhood holidays and where we often went as a family. This will be Kevin's final resting place and we know here he will be at peace back in his mother's home.

Whenever I see Kevin in my mind I see him at the corner of our street with a smile on his face blowing a kiss.

But he heard high up in the air

A piper piping away

And never was piping so sad

And never was piping so gay. 

Rest in Peace Kevin, never to be forgotten.

 
Kevin Bean 1955 - 2024.