SCOTLAND: TRIBUTE - JOHN SHANNON HLM

We are incredibly saddened to report the passing of John Shannon who was one of our HLM’s in Scotland. John had been ill for some time following a diagnosis of terminal cancer, but his death came as a shock to everyone, given how well he had been doing and was still incredibly active and in good spirits.

He was a well-known figure across generations of the POA in Scotland, and a much liked and respected colleague and friend. Not just as a union man, but as a person. John’s wife Anne and his family have been greatly heartened to hear so many people speak so fondly of John, but that is not just because of his passing.

I first met John when I was a recruit at college 33 years ago and John was a tutor there at the time. There are many people who have always talked with great respect about John who remember him as their tutor, and it was an approach that he took with him in to his role as a national official of the SPOA. He was the finance officer when I was first elected to the NEC alongside colleagues such as Andy Hogg and Malky Still.

He was never anything other than patient, kind and incredibly helpful to all of us when we were elected, and he instilled some good habits and standards round the table that have served many well over the years. He was the finance officer during what could only be described as the worst possible time financially for the trade union due to the ever-spiralling costs of some legal cases ongoing at the time that all but bankrupt the trade union. It is not unreasonable to say that without John’s efforts and commitment to manage things in a way that would have had lesser men walk away, we would never have managed to keep soldiering on at that time. The members in Scotland owe him a great deal of gratitude for his commitment, professionalism and energy to commit himself in the way he did back then, and the history would look entirely different today without his contribution.

For those of us who had the pleasure to know him in a more personal way than that, to have had the pleasure of his friendship over many years, we owe him a lot more. He was a perfect gentleman. Always. A terrific source of sound, calm reasoned advice and someone who’s judgement I trusted implicitly.

He was also just great fun to be around and a very funny guy with a great sense of humour. John was someone who was never downbeat about things, and entirely positive and practical. I think that must have helped both him and the family during his period of illness. Those in attendance at John's funeral all spoke about him in exactly the same way, with exactly the same view of who he was. I hope the genuine love and warmth that was evident to Anne, Tracey and Nicola on the day give them some comfort in the challenging time ahead, and I hope they take from the day, that John was indeed a much loved, much respected friend and colleague who will be sorely missed by many.

 

PHIL FAIRLIE
ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY