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Nick Burdon and Denis Blockley Memorial Fund
Nick
Burdon was a full time official in MSF who unfortunately died at a young age,
just two weeks after his 50th birthday. He was widely recognized as a hard worker whose drive and determination were
dedicated to issues in the Trade Union and associated movements. His interests
were focused on campaigns that offer support to those fighting for freedom and
are against racism, imperialism and exploitation of those unable to defend
themselves. The
untimely death led to the North Thames Region of MSF to conclude that we should
mark his life and its contribution to the above causes by setting up a 'Nick
Burdon Memorial Fund', and now Denis
Blockley's name has been added to the Fund. This Fund to be used to provide training on an
international basis for Trade Unionists who otherwise would have little access
to it; a prime example being Trade Unionists from South Africa.
Denis Blockley Denis
Blockley started work as a naval architect and a trade unionist in the shipyards
of the Tees. He was presented with the TUC award for Youth in 1975
and appointed a full time official with TASS in 1979, at the time the
youngest officer to be appointed. Within the Union Denis worked in the Essex
area having moved there on his allocation to the Ipswich office. He maintained
his attachment to the Youth Committee and was delighted to see many members go
on to have an impact in other areas of MSF. This life long involvement with the
Youth Committee and Denis’s support of the anti-apartheid movement means he
would have been proud to have his name associated with the Fund, which helps
young people from countries such as South Africa to learn how to negotiate and
to implement the rights they have for so long been denied. The
training to be open to full time officials, lay representatives or rank &
file members provided it could then be used to effect in the country from which
the individual(s) came. To date, during its three years of operation, the Fund
has hosted 6 students, 5 from South Africa and 1 from Grenada. These students
have visited the UK for between 2 and 3 weeks during which they have attended one-week courses at
MSF Whitehall College ( Now closed and
the site sold) on
a subject relevant to their needs. The additional time has been spent visiting
workplaces and meeting Trade Unionists throughout the UK, hosted by MSF/AmicusRegions. The Fund is now a TRUST Link to Trust Fund Website Trustees:- Veronica Belcher Anne Blockley Philip Brown Simon Dubbins Harriet Eisner Aim of the trust is the training of overseas Trade Unionists This
activity has been possible because of the support of trade unionists, especially
those in MSF. The Executive has been very supportive of the fund by offering
training at an Amicus Training College for the students as well as financial support.
Other Regions and branches have also assisted with donations and in hosting the
students during their stay in Britain. Further support is essential for it to
continue and to be developed into a stand alone Trust for continuation of its
aims, regardless of the future organization of the Union. Please inform your
branches, colleagues and friends so that they too may support the work of the
Fund. Cheques made out to Nick Burdon and Denis Blockley Memorial Trust Fund should be sent to:- Rodney Tucker, Trust Fund Treasurer, 40, Barwell Way, Witham, Essex. CM82TY Further information on the work of the Fund is available from:- Philip
Brown, e-mail
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