Plimsoll honoured

31 AUGUST 2004 was the 75th anniversary of the unveiling of the memorial to Samuel Plimsoll, known as the ‘sailors’ friend’, who was responsible for saving the lives of countless merchant seafarers. Plimsoll tirelessly campaigned for the introduction of safe loading marks on all merchant vessels throughout the world. The monument is situated on the Victoria Embankment in London, near Embankment tube station, towards the Houses of Parliament, where Plimsoll, Liberal MP for Derby from 1868 to1880, famously described MPs who opposed reforms in the Merchant Shipping Bill in 1875, as ‘villains’. During the debate he shook his fist at MPs, for which he was formally reprimanded for ‘disorderly and violent behaviour’ by the Speaker. Samuel Plimsoll published his renowned book Our Seamen – An Appeal in 1873. The contents were sensational, revealing many authenticated examples of shipowners who bought cheap unseaworthy vessels, overinsured them and their cargoes, then overloaded the ships and sent them to sea undermanned, with the hope that the vessel would be lost or wrecked.These ships were known as ‘Coffin Ships’ or ‘Rotten Ships’. Copies of the book were given to every delegate at the 1873 TUC in Leeds, as well as to all MPs and the public bought tens of thousands of copies published by the TUC. Later the same year the Aberdeen Line launched a wool-clipper and named it the Samuel Plimsoll.The ship was an iron sailing vessel and traded until 1902, classified by Lloyds Insurers as ‘A1'. In Parliament, Disraeli’s delaying measures and opposition to the reforms were challenged by Samuel Plimsoll, who used ‘obstructionist’ procedures and fought every corner to ensure that The Unseaworthy Ships Bill was passed in August 1875 and provided for a Loadline to be marked on every ship registered after 1876. It soon became known as The Plimsoll Line and was embodied into law by the 1876 Merchant Shipping Act, although it was the 1894 Merchant Shipping Act that finally confirmed Plimsoll’s victory for seafarers and their families. Havelock Wilson, founder of the National Amalgamated Sailors and Fireman’s Union shared the same commitment to improving the conditions of Merchant Seamen as Samuel Plimsoll, and they became close associates. Samuel Plimsoll became the first President of the NAS&FU from 1888 to 1893. He died in Folkestone in 1898. It was under Havelock Wilson’s leadership of the National Union of Seamen that the Embankment memorial was commissioned and those attending the dedication in 1929 included family members and representatives from trade unions, government officials and shipowners. The inscription on the bronze shield reads: “Samuel Plimsoll Born 1824 Died 1898, Erected by the members of the National Union of Seamen in grateful recognition of his services to the men of the sea of all nations”. STUART HISLOP Honouring Samuel Plimsoll Bob Hutton FORMER NUR executive committee member Brother Bob Hutton passed away last month at the age of 75. Starting as a telephone lad at 14 years of age, Bob saw service in various grades in the railway industry within the operating grades, goods and cartage, railway owned docks and as a trackman on the Permanent Way. Bob, a member of Bensham and Tyneside No. 2 branches, held many branch positions includ- ing chairman and treasurer. He also held the fol- lowing positions at various times in his trade union and labour movement career: NUR Committee Member to the North East Coast Conference (Docks) NUR Member National Joint Committee for Teemers and Trimmers (Docks) Secretary to Gateshead and District Joint Branches President,Vice-President & E.C. Member of Newcastle District Council Delegate and Executive Committee member as various Grades Conference Secretary to Gateshead and District Widows and Orphans Fund E.C. Member Gateshead Labour Party Vice-President of Gateshead and District Trades Council Deputised for Secretary County Association of Trades Councils at the Annual Conference of Trades Councils 1980 Nationally, Bob was elected to the NUR Executive Committee for the years: 1971-73 and 1977-79 (Goods and Cartage, Docks and Marine Groups) 1983-85 (Permanent Way, S & T and OHL Staff) Pat Devitt Former Glasgow 5 Branch Secretary PAT DEVITT former Scottish sectional council chair and for many years the Glasgow 5 branch secretary has passed away aged 73. A lifelong union activist and communist, Pat held numerous posts on behalf of the union and represented hundreds of members over the years. Pat was a leading figure for the union in Scotland, and was one of the sacked Glasgow central guards in the 1985 dispute. Ian MacIntrye, himself a former Glasgow 5 branch secretary and now regional organiser, said: “We have lost a true stalwart of the trade union movement and RMT in particular. Pat was my mentor as he was for many other activists and the work that he put in for his colleagues over the years was incalculable. “Pat set a shining example to other trade union activists on how to conduct business on behalf of the union and have been lucky to know and work with him,” he said. The well-attended funeral at Clydebank crematorium was followed by a celebration of his life with family and friends at the Duntocher Hotel where many colleagues, family and friends raised a glass or two and sang songs in accordance with Pat’s wishes. Willie McGee Former Glasgow 5 Branch Secretary. MEMBERS will be saddened to learn of the death of Willie McGee, the former Glasgow 5 Branch secretary, aged 51 years. In addition to being a Branch Secretary,Willie was a former sectional council chair and a leading activist for signal workers in Scotland both as zonal representative and a member of the Railtrack national council. A widely respected activist and negotiator,Willie played a major role in the signal workers dispute in 1994 both in Scotland and on a national level. Phil McGarry, Scottish Regional Organiser, said: “The union in Scotland has lost one of the most outstanding activists of recent times.Willie worked hard for union members, kept a cool head even in tough negotiations and commanded respect both amongst union members and the management.We shall miss him greatly especially in the light of the recent death of his colleague and friend Pat Devitt,” he said. The packed funeral was attended by trade union colleagues from the Glasgow signalling centre, regional organisers Phil McGarry and Ian Macintyre and family and friends. George MacPherson BROTHER George MacPherson passed away on July 29, age 57, after a short illness. George was the guards LLC rep at Sterling and was well respected by his colleagues for his helpfulness.This was returned by George as he was also one of the mentors training several of the new recruits at the depot. He started on the railway in 1977, joining the NUR and remain- ing a loyal member until his untimely passing. He will be sadly missed. He is survived by his son George and his partner June. OBITUARIES