Eulogy by
Kellan Farshea 
Tony Brown, along with Colin Laskey (deceased) and Roland Jaggard,
were three of the 12 men prosecuted in 1989 for adult consensual
sadomasochist sex and whose case resulted in the now infamous Spanner
Judgement (Regina vs Brown et al) which changed British law such that
many consenting acts of BDSM between adults in Britain are now deemed
assault under British Law.
It was Tony, along with Roland and Colin, who appealed against the
judgement through all the courts of the British justice system and
finally took their case to the European Court of Human Rights. And it
was their courage that inspired me to found the Spanner Campaign and
SM Pride UK.
The Spanner Campaign was originally set up to present an alternate
case to the one being portrayed in the media of both the men and of
BDSM. It later became the main fundraising conduit for money to support
Tony, Roland and Colin's case to the European Court of Human Rights.
In the event, the support and kindness of BDSM supporters around
the world raised over UKP 300,000.
Tony and Roland attended the SM Pride Marches every year until Tony's
health became poor.
After the Law Lords decision in 1992, Tony and Roland had to return to
prison to serve out their sentences in solitary confinement. They
received many, many cards from well-wishers and supporters from across
the world, which they covered the walls of their cells, and at one
point, their mail accounted for 3/4 of the mail for the whole wing. I
know both Tony and Roland found this of great support and both of them
kept these cards after their release.
Although they ultimately lost the case in Europe, their courage was an
inspiration not only to the immediate organisers of the campaign but
to many BDSM practitioners around the world.
Tony Brown was one of my personal heroes, his courage in the face of
clear injustice and having to spend to spend two periods of time in
prison for his consensual BDSM activities was deeply affecting. He was
a cheerful friendly man, always down to earth, thoughtful and
entertaining. I will miss him considerably.
Tony had many friends around the world, he was an active member of the
European ECMC movement, an officer of the Midlands MSC Leathers Men
Club, an active member of his local church and had almost completed
his aim to visit all state capitals of the USA. In 2000 Roland and
Tony recieved Centurion's awards from the Leather Archives, of which
they were extremely proud.