Press Release: Immediate

Metric Martyrs Defence Fund
World Famous Actor pays tribute to 'People's Champion' Metric Martyr Steve Thoburn

Veteran actor Edward Fox has penned a moving tribute to Metric Martyr Steve Thoburn for a book in aid of injured soldiers. The star of films including The Day of the Jackal, A Bridge Too Far and Gandhi, described the late Sunderland greengrocer as a "people's champion" in the Food for Heroes cookbook, which will benefit the charity Help for Heroes. Steve Thoburn, who died suddenly in his wife’s arms 2004 after suffering a massive heart attack aged just 39, hit the headlines around the world in 2001 after being prosecuted for selling bananas by the pound. His appeals against conviction were taken to the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords and European Court of Human Rights. Only four other traders were ever convicted under the regulations. In 2007, the European Commission published proposals that would permit the use of price and quantity marking using imperial measurements alongside, but not instead of, metric units and then, in 2008 due to pressure from the Metric Martyrs Campaign and the threat to Transatlantic Trade, the EU abandoned its enforced metrication programme. The British Government rapidly followed suit with Minister John Denham announcing that there would be no more Metric Martyrs prosecutions after the high profile conviction of 64 year old Hackney pensioner and market trader Janet Devers. Hackney Council eventually abandoned the Crown Court jury trial offering no evidence. Of Steve Thoburn the British actor wrote: "Steve became the people's champion for his courage in standing up for his customers' rights to buy their fruit and vegetables in imperial measures. He was a good and brave man."

 

A hundred people were asked to nominate their hero by 'Help for Heroes' and the dish they would cook for them, and the book is the result.

 

Edward Fox's recipe is Panga (a type of fish) Tandoori.

Among those asked were Gordon Brown, Dame Vera Lynn, and UK war veterans. Steve sits in the book as a hero between Sebastian Coe and the
Apollo 11 Crew. Not bad for a market trader from a little provincial city in North East England.

Sunderland-born veteran broadcaster Kate Adie also wrote the foreword to the book.

 

 

 

 

Steve's legal battle came after undercover Trading Standards Officers caught Steve selling bananas by the pound.  Not sure why they decided to go under cover as he was shouting "Come on ladies, who wants 2lb of bananas for 50p?" at the top of his voice at the entrance to the market.
Steve was joined by four other traders from across the country to fight European regulations requiring food traders to sell produce in metric measurements.

 

Their legal battle was funded through the Metric Martyr Defence Fund, raised from donations by the public and this support has ensured that the campaign is driven forward to this to ensure that justice is finally seen to be done.

 

Fellow campaigner Neil Herron said Edward Fox had been a supporter of their cause from the very early days, along with the likes of singer Elaine Paige, racing driver Stirling Moss and politicians Lord Tebbit and Tony Benn.  Edward had breakfast with us on the first day of the Court case in the High Court and sat in the packed public gallery to watch the proceedings.

 

Neil Herron states:  "To have Steve elevated to the position of hero by such a highly respected British actor and gentleman is a great honour for his family, the campaign and all our supporters."

"An extraordinary, ordinary man, Steve's courageous stand for his customers and common sense is recognised the world over and the Metric Martyrs have won their battle in the court of the people.  Politicians both in the EU and now in the British Government have now accepted that this was bad law which had never gained the consent of the people.  Perhaps a lesson learned by the political class that a small band of committed and dedicated individuals supported by the masses can stand firm against an injustice.  The tragedy is that Steve is not here to share in the glory of the victory but his name and memory will live on as a symbol of true grit and British determination.  A true British patriot."

 

"The Campaign and our supporters will continue to push for a posthumous Royal Pardon for Steve and  the four other Metric Martyrs and there is no political will to oppose this."

 

Leigh Thoburn, Steve's widow, said his family are extremely proud of the tribute.
"He will always be a hero to us," she said.  "A hero as a husband, a hero as a dad, and a hero to all his customers as someone who had the courage to stand up for common sense."

 

Metric Martyrs encourages everyone to buy the Food for Heroes cook book to help support our injured service men and women.

 

Food for Heroes is available from all good stockists.  Alternatively, visit www.accentpress.co.uk, www.foodforheroes.mmmwebdesign.co.uk or www.helpforheroes.org