Lasting tribute to trade unionist Enoch

Oct 13 2010 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

Lasting tribute to trade unionist Enoch

A LASTING tribute has been made to Cambuslang man Enoch Humphries, former president of the Fire Brigades Union, who died last year at the age of 86.

Enoch, who lived in Rosebank Tower, has had his life commemorated by the unveiling of a bench in his memory at the nearby Stanford Hall tower.

The memorial bench, along with two planters, was the work of Cambuslang Central Tenants and Residents Association, Pride of Place, and South Lanarkshire Community Resources.

Enoch’s widow Margaret was delighted to perform the unveiling.

Enoch was born in Rutherglen on September 25, 1922 and, as well as being president of the Fire Brigades Union, he was also chair of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

He was educated at St David’s Primary and Townhead Secondary.

He left school at 14 and worked in several jobs, eventually lied about his age to join the RAF in 1939 at the age of just 17.

In 1946, he joined the Fire Service.

Enoch fought for the rights of his colleagues and encouraged others to take up the cause.

He was instrumental in shaping the direction of the Scottish Trade Union movement.

Like many trade unionists of his time, he joined the Communist Party and, again like many, he quit the party following the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956.

The fire service that Enoch joined over half-a-century ago has changed dramatically and the roots of some of the more progressive changes can be seen in the campaigns led by Enoch in the 60s and 70s.

One such campaign was the “spit and polish campaign”, which ended the practice of firefighters cleaning equipment unnecessary (mainly brass fittings), cleaning toilets and windows, with firefighters instead doing meaningful work such as fire prevention, inspections and training in return for a living wage.

The Scottish Trades Union General Council first met Enoch in 1963, a relationship that continued till the day he died. He was the president of the STUC in 1968 and only retired from the General Council when he was forced to retire from the fire service in 1977 because of his age.

His continued involvement with trade union issues since his retirement from an employed wage ultimately led to his role with the Scottish Pensioners Forum and other campaigns for the rights of the elderly.

Provost Russell Clearie was one of those who attended the bench unveiling and he paid his own tribute to Enoch.

He said: “It’s a nice touch for the family in recognising Enoch’s voluntary work, but it shouldn’t be forgotten what he achieved nationally and internationally. There was a tremendous turnout from many of Enoch’s old friends and local residents.

“It’s a great tribute to him and it’s a real shame that he will not be able to see the new fire training centre being built down the road at Clydesmill.”