Журналист Бернард Понсонби чтит наследие профсоюзного лидера Джимми Риди в Гриноке

ESTEEMED journalist Bernard Ponsonby celebrated the legacy of trade unionist and broadcaster Jimmy Reid during a talk to former shipyard workers from Greenock and Port Glasgow earlier this week. The former STV political editor discussed Mr Reid’s life at a meeting of the Clydemen’s Lunch Club at St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Port Glasgow. Around 40 people attended the talk, which examined the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders’ “work-in” protest, led by Mr Reid from June 1971 until October 1972, and one of the trade unionist’s powerful speeches which caught the attention of the world press. The work-in was carried out in response to Edward Heath’s Conservative government deciding not to subsidise most yards on the Upper and Lower Clyde, raising the prospect of shipbuilding disappearing altogether. The industrial action saw workers continue building ships to demonstrate that the yards were viable. Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Ponsonby said: “Jimmy Reid, because of his association with shipbuilding, would have been known to the men of the Lower Clyde down here in Greenock and Port Glasgow. “For a certain generation of people, he is quite an important historical figure.” He added: “The conveners of the various yards on the Upper Clyde decided that they would occupy the yards – not through a conventional strike – but they would actually continue with their work. “This was quite a novel strategy for making a point about keeping the shipyards open. “As a consequence of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders’ work-in, the then Conservative government U-turned on its policy of providing no subsidies for the yards, and at that point, the yards were saved.” The talk was titled Jimmy Reid: Friend or Foe?, reflecting what Mr Ponsonby described as Mr Reid’s status as a 'complicated individual' who ruffled feathers and changed political party several times. However, the veteran broadcaster said Mr Reid was 'overwhelmingly a good thing'. The journalist added: “If you were relying on shipyard work in the early 70s, he was absolutely a friend. “If you were in a working-class community and you were looking for somebody to stand up to the government for the interests of your class and your community, he was a friend.” Reverend Dr Lisa Curtice, who helps run the popular Clydemen group, said the talk was one of many varied and fascinating seminars held to celebrate the history of the yards. She said: “The purpose of the Clydemen’s Lunch Club is to celebrate the achievements of the men who worked on the Lower Clyde in shipbuilding and its associated industries. “We get a regular attendance of 30 to 40 people, and we have a special Clyde room, which was set up with pictures from Sir Eric Yarrow and has pictures of shipbuilding and the ships. “That’s where people first come for coffee, and it’s where we had intended to meet, but there are too many attendees for that, so we meet in the big hall.” The club was founded by Reverend David Gifford around 2015. Its first meeting was launched with Sir Eric Yarrow, who Reverend Dr Curtice said remains a great supporter.