Belinda Pyke, who chaired the Brussels Labour party for 14 years and campaigned for the right of overseas Britons to vote in national elections, has died aged 73.
Early Life and Career
Born in Wirral, Belinda was the youngest of three children of Audrey (nee Smith), a teacher, and Jim Pyke, a bookmaker. After attending Upton Hall convent school, she studied international relations at the University of Sussex (1973), then completed a diploma in sociology at Warwick University (1975).
Her first job was at the British Council in Edinburgh, where she administered study awards for postgraduates from developing countries. She left in 1980 to join the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers’ Association (later Numast) as a research officer. Her work on shipping policy led to an invitation to join the cabinet of Stanley Clinton-Davis.
European Commission Service
In Brussels, Belinda worked in the cabinets of three European commissioners: Stanley Clinton-Davis (transport, 1985-89), Bruce Millan (regional policy, 1989-95), and Neil Kinnock (transport until 1999, then vice-president of the commission until 2004). For Kinnock, she served as lead cabinet staff member.
She later became director for equality in the directorate-general of employment, before being appointed director for migration and borders in 2011. She retired from her final post as director for migration and mobility in 2017.
Political and Human Rights Activism
Belinda chaired the Brussels Labour party for 14 years and was a tireless campaigner for overseas Britons' voting rights. After retirement, she worked with AIACE-UK, the association of former EU staff, as a regional convener and co-editor of its journal.
She was also actively supportive of Amnesty International, the United Nations Association, and Action 21, a small recycling charity.
Travel and Charity Work
For over three decades, Belinda spent summers with her American cousins, searching for sand dollars on Maine beaches and enjoying wine. She also travelled widely for charity, bicycling for the leprosy charity Lepra in Malawi (2007) and India (2006 and 2016), and for Medical Aid for Palestinians in Palestine (2016 and 2023).
In 2019, she became an ecumenical accompanier in Palestine with the World Council of Churches, volunteering for three months to monitor interactions between Israeli settlers and Palestinians.
Final Years
In Leamington Spa, where she lived after retirement, Belinda co-chaired Justice for Palestine and co-organised vigils, meetings, and discussions. It was at one of these events that she collapsed with a brain haemorrhage.
Her brother Geoff died in 2017. She is survived by her brother Bill and two nephews, Tim and the author of this obituary.
