General Council Report 2002: Chapter 15

General Council Report

• obituary

obituary

Frank Cave, vice-president of the National Union of Mineworkers, died on January 7, 2002, aged 59. He began his working life at the Brodsworth Colliery in 1957 and was elected as a full-time NUM area agent in 1982. He served on the NUM national executive committee from 1989 and was elected vice-president in 1991. In addition to his role at the NUM he was also the acting political and policy chairman of the International Energy and Mineworkers Organisations (IEMO). He was also a regular delegate to Congress and stood for the General Purposes Committee on a number of occasions.

Brian Devine, who died on May 24, 2002, chaired the TUC’s North West Regional Council from 1996 until 2002. Before that he had been a member of the regional executive for many years. He was senior regional officer for NALGO and later the first regional secretary of UNISON, following the creation of the union in 1993.

Jack Dunn, who died in March 2002 aged 87, was the retired General Secretary of the Kent area of the National Union of Mineworkers’ and long-standing member of the pensioners’ movement. He was closely involved in the trade union education and was Chair of the TUC South Eastern Region.

Moss Evans, who served on the General Council from 1977 until 1985, died on January 12, 2002 aged 76. Born in South Wales, he spent part of his childhood in the West Midlands and began his working life as a factory worker in that part of the world. He became a full-time union official in the T&G at the age of 26 and was elected general secretary in 1978. He chaired the TUC International Committee and Media Working Group and was a member of the Finance and General Purpose Committee, Economic Committee and Employment Policy and Organisation Committee. He was also a member of the ACAS Council, the National Economic Development Council, and the executive of the International Transport Workers’ Federation. Six years after his retirement, in 1991, he won a seat on his local council, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, and later became mayor of King’s Lynn.

Ron Keating, who died at the end of October 2001, aged 65, was the former Assistant General Secretary of NUPE. He worked for the Labour Party in its despatch department before joining NUPE as an organiser. He was the chief negotiator in Britain’s first national water strike in 1983 and was a member of the TUC local Government Committee. Following his retirement became a prison chaplain in the North East.

Sandra Leventon, who died in December 2001 aged 63, was the first paid General Secretary of the Community and Youth Workers’ Union. As well as helping establish the union she also helped win recognition for the professional status of youth work. In 1981 she resigned her post to care for her mother. Acknowledging the lack of support for carers, she set up the National Association of Carers, now known as Carers UK.

Sidney Weighell, who died on February 13, 2002 aged 79, was the General Secretary of the NUR from 1975 until 1982. He also served on the General Council from 1975 until 1983. Born in North Yorkshire, like his father and grandfather before him, he joined the railways straight from school, though for two years he left the industry to be a professional footballer with Sunderland. In 1953 he was elected to the NUR executive and in 1954 was appointed as a full-time official. He was assistant general secretary from 1965-75. After leaving the NUR he returned to live in Yorkshire.