Bill Ronksley: Farewell to a working class hero

Former ASLEF President Bill Ronksley’s funeral takes place tomorrow Wednesday 5 December from his beloved Wortley Hall. Bill passed away peacefully aged 94 years, most of those years were committed to fighting for workers' rights and a more just and peaceful world.

Bill was famous for his words of advice at crucial times and was a great supporter of the Regional TUC both as Secretary of Sheffield Trades Council and as a delegate to the TUC Yorkshire and Humber Regional Council.

In 2015, the TUC Regional Council took a decision to have an award to the best young representative of the year and named it the Bill Ronksley award. Bill donated a piece of glass he had been given from his many overseas adventures, he was a great internationalist. His memory and his ideals will therefore live on through the young representatives who follow him.

On a personal note, Bill supported me from day one of taking the job, offering advice when I asked him, chatting through some of the contemporary issues which affected working people’s lives, and always sending me many emails just to let me know what was happening!  Bill never judged or criticised, he was only interested in solutions that would work for the many.

Rest in Peace Bill, you will always be remembered across our region and beyond.