Clive Webster

A union member for all of his working life, he was passionate about the need for trade unions to stand up for workers’ rights and to improve working conditions.

He was born in Batley, and left grammar school at 16 to go into the Yorkshire coalfields in the days when pit ponies still served a hard life underground – just like the men.

With sufficient encouragement, he would have acquaintances howling with stories about clinging on apache-like to the pit ponies as they bolted full speed up the slopes when the whistle sounded at the end of the shifts – and the boys wanted to be the first ones back too.

Mine work was tough and dirty and he progressed to the job of shot-firer, placing and detonating explosives to open up the rich coal seams early each morning before the miners started work.

As a member of the National Union of Mineworkers, Mr Webster soon showed that he was something special and the union granted him a scholarship to study politics at Ruskin College, Oxford.

He loved politics and even considered becoming an MP, but changed his mind after graduating and became a teacher instead, and an active member of the National Association of Teachers in Further & Higher Education.

He was elected to West Yorkshire County Council, serving until it was abolished in 1986. He took that opportunity to return to the subject that was so dear to his heart, trade unionism, and taught it at higher education. One of his students, Brian Caton, went on to become general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association.

In 1990, Mr Webster was asked to set up the Leeds Permanent Building Society Staff Association (LPSSA) and was its general secretary until the Leeds and Halifax unions merged in 1996. Following this, he became deputy general secretary of the enlarged union. Throughout his time with the IUHS and Accord, Mr Webster was regarded was a brilliant negotiator on organisational change, redundancy programmes, job evaluation and the divisions that evolved after the merger with Bank of Scotland in 2000, and the Lloyds TSB takeover in 2008.

Throughout his union career, he was dedicated to negotiating the best possible outcome for members, often in very difficult negotiations.

He was loved by all who worked with him, respected by management and was popular with everyone at Accord. Very many people are better off thanks to his tireless work on their behalf.

Throughout his brave battle with cancer, he faced the inevitable with the courage, stoicism and compassion for those around him that were the defining characteristics of his life.

He is survived by his loving wife June, his two children and seven grandchildren.