The former general secretary of Unison was a patron of the Dalit Solidarity Network, says David Haslam; but why was he called Rodney, asks Pat Ferguson

As a friend of Rodney Bickerstaffe who visited him several times in his last few months, I can assure Andy Pegg he was able to rejoice in the revival of a socialist Labour party (Letters, 9 October). I knew him best in relation to another cause he shared with Jeremy Corbyn, opposition to the oppression of India’s caste system. He was a patron of the Dalit Solidarity Network, a commitment not mentioned in his obituary, and a trust of which Jeremy is the honorary chair.

It would be a fitting tribute to Rodney if the clause introduced at the end of the last Labour government, to incorporate caste discrimination into UK equality law, was now triggered, albeit seven years on. Rodney’s commitment to human rights extended far beyond Britain’s working people and pensioners, for whom he was indeed a warm, humorous and hard-working champion.

Rev David Haslam

Evesham, Worcestershire

• So, Ms Kitchin (Letters, 9 October), just why did Rodney Bickerstaffe’s mother call him Rodney? I could have done with “laughing until it hurt to breathe”, since reading the rest of Monday’s paper left me in the slough of despond!

Pat Ferguson

Nottingham

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