It was with great sadness that I learnt about the sudden passing of a very dear friend, neighbour and mentor, Linda Whetstone.
Like me, many of you will have had the immense honour of knowing Linda for many years and benefiting from her friendship, vast knowledge, good humour and endless inspiration. She was a rare gem, a force to be reckoned with and a fierce and tireless defender of human rights, democracy, liberation and free market principles here in the UK and across the world.
Linda was the daughter of Sir Anthony Fisher, the co-founder of the Institute of Economic Affairs. Indifferent to public recognition, Linda supported his work and made sure it continued to grow in impact after his death. Linda was a leading libertarian and free-market campaigner, selflessly fighting for freedom and inspiring young leaders across the world to establish think tanks of their own and further the cause.
Through the Atlas Network, a support network for an incredible 485 partner organisations in 93 countries dedicated to establishing free-market institutions around the world, she also supported thousands of Afghan youths to learn the ideas of a free and prosperous society. Her aim was to reduce poverty and as she often said “to remove obstacles from people’s lives”.
Most recently, Linda helped save lives of whole families - men, women, and children from being brutally killed. That is just one of her many legacies. For years, Linda had worked with young Afghans who were teaching the rule of law, the basics of democracy and economic literacy. With the withdrawal of western troops in August, I worked with Linda day and night responding to desperate calls from Afghans who were now targeted by the Taliban. I don’t think we slept during that crisis; we spoke at all hours of the day trying to work out how to find safe passage for many families who feared being killed.
Throughout her amazing, busy, exceptional life, Linda inspired countless individuals of all backgrounds in every corner of the world. Her work at the Institute of Economic Affairs, the Atlas Network, the Mont Pelerin Society, the International Policy Network, the Board of Free Social Networks, and the Islam and Liberty Network to name just a few, brought countless young people their first experience of the ideas of a free and prosperous society. She built a vibrant network of individuals across all continents and leaves behind a remarkable legacy of institutions, academics, students, and activists that have benefited from her work.
Linda’s other life passion was providing opportunities for others to learn more about horses and their training. She helped bring renown judges on tours around the UK to train British judges and she was a cornerstone of, and later a Chairman of the British Dressage and British Equestrian. She played a central role in developing the new examination and assessment system for British Dressage judges and oversaw the wild-card system being set up as well as changes to the rules to allow para riders to take part in able-bodied classes.
At home in Wealden, she was at the heart of the Hartfield community and at the core of the Wealden Association, having been its past Chairman and President. An example to many of us on how selfless community work is done: having already previously offered a home to a Rwandan refugee, who has become a member of their extended family, when the local church called to report a homeless person on its porch a few years ago, Linda and her husband took them into their home for months.
As the local MP, it was a blessing having Linda so close to offer sound, experienced advice and unwavering support, often accompanied with many cups of tea and endless rounds of toast. Often, I visited with my daughter who would be playing somewhere in her home or skateboarding outside and of course, Linda too had a go on the skateboard!
It is incomprehensible for me that we have lost an unforgettable, exceptional, irreplaceable friend and a true Conservative. Linda was one of a kind and will be sorely missed by so many here in Wealden, East Sussex and across the world.
My thoughts and prayers are with her husband Francis and the family at this difficult time.
