INTERNATIONAL FOCUS

www.rmt.org.uk :: january 2007 :: RMTnews 27 C ardiff Rail branch members Steve Jones, Brian Hinton, Dave Sellick, Clive Stevens, John Moore all received their 25-year badge recently in a ceremony at Cardiff Transport Club. C oventry No 1 Branch held a long service awards ceremony at the Royal Warwick’s Club in Coventry recently. The proceedings were started by Branch Chairman Steve Kingham, who welcomed the award winners and their guests and invited the General Secretary Bob Crow to present the awards. Bob began by acknowledging how important it was to belong a strong union such as RMT and went on to say how it was also important to recognise the people at the grass roots, as they are the backbone of such an organisation and thanked them all for their long service. Steve Kingham then called upon the General Secretary to make a presentation to Ray Billingsley and his wife Hazel. Ray is retiring as Branch Secretary after 33 years in the post, which is believed to be a record. A collection had been made for Ray and he was presented with the collection of over £200 toward a LCD TV. His wife Hazel was presented with a bouquet of flowers. 25 year awards went to: • L Bishop (Central Trains) • K Patel (Network Rail) • P Patel (Virgin Trains) • D Pitcher (Network Rail) • L Simmonds (Network Rail) • K Yuruker (Network Rail) 40 year awards went to: • M Chandi (Virgin Trains) • R Mundy (Virgin Trains) Retired • B Read (Network Rail) • R Billingsley (Lynx/Excel logistics/UPS) Retired A big man with a personality to match, Jack was well known across all the grades on London Underground. Sadly he died on October 12, leaving his wife and three children. The non-religious funeral was carried out to Jack’s wishes for no flowers, no tears and a good wake afterwards were carried out, with Bob Crow and Simon Peacock (senior manager) addressing the capacity crowd who had travelled up to pay tribute. Jack’s negotiating skills and his thoroughness in preparing disciplinary cases were particularly remarked on - he was always first to support anyone who had suffered an injustice. Jack was born and bred in Islington, and although he moved out to Welwyn Garden City he always retained a close connection with Islington. Having been apprenticed as an upholsterer, Jack changed direction and started with the Underground as an Adult Trainee Examiner at Ealing Common Depot. After a spell on permanent nights at Parsons Green sidings he eventually took on the job for which he is best remembered, callpoint Train Technician at Earl’s Court. Always a union activist and left wing socialist, Jack was a local rep at Ealing Common from 1974, later taking on both Negotiating and Health & Safety roles, and being elected to Sub Surface Lines Fleet Functional in 2001. Diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas in October 2004 Jack continued to take a keen interest in RMT activities and attended Fleet Maintenance branch when he could, until being medically retired in February this year. Passionate in all he did, Jack would relax by playing football well into his 40’s, and by fishing. He packed more into his life than most of us could fit into two or three lives - he even had two leaving parties, both memorable. A great friend and the strongest of RMT reps, he will be sadly missed. Martin Eady It is with great sadness that I have to inform you of the death of Denis Roy Sharp. Denis was a train operator with the Jubilee line based at Wembley Park depot. He spent 28 years of flawless service with London Underground and took early retirement in August 2004. He spent the last year of his life battling cancer with strength and dignity until his illness took him from us on November 8 2006. Dens funeral took place at Islington and St Pancras Cemetary and was attended by his family and friends, old and new. A gathering of friends and family at Dens home in Kingsbury was a memorable occasion for all who attended. A fitting tribute to a man held in such high regard by so many. Goodbye Den, wherever you are now I hope you are at peace, you'll never be forgotten. Matt Whyte (left to right): back row: L Bishop, L Simmonds, R Billingsley, B Crow, K Yuruker, D Pitcher, M Chandi, S Kingham Front Row: B Read, K Patel, R Mundy, P Patel COVENTRY HOLDS LONG-SERVICE AWARD CEREMONY JACK EVANS 1949 - 2006 OBITUARY CARDIFF HONOURS THEIR OWN Right to Left:Front row; Steve Jones, Brian Hinton, Dave Sellick, Clive Stevens, Bob Crow, John Moore Back row; Brian Curtis – regional Organiser and Peter Skelly Amey Convenor (left to right): Ray & Hazel’s Grand Daughter, Katie, Ray, Bob, Hazel