Экс-преподаватель Лидса и активист профсоюза Герри Лавери скончался в возрасте 74 лет

My friend Gerry Lavery, who has died aged 74, was a modest man who made a significant impact on many people’s lives. Gerry was a social sciences lecturer at Leeds Polytechnic (later Leeds Beckett University) from 1986 until he retired in 2012. He initially taught students training to be social workers, before focusing on teaching social policy and politics. With a strong sense of social justice, Gerry was influenced in his early years by the work of liberation theologians and was inspired by the writings of the Italian Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci. Gerry frequently referred to Gramsci’s work, in particular his maxim “pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will”, and always strove to put his principles into practice. Born in Easington, County Durham, to Mary (nee Curran), a homemaker, and Stan Lavery, a miner, Gerry was the eldest of six children. Growing up in Seaham, he developed a reputation for questioning many aspects of life and how it worked. Gerry attended a junior seminary, St Mary’s Missionary college, Grange Sands, which was run by the Holy Ghost Fathers (officially known as the Congregation of the Holy Spirit); he left after his A-levels in 1971, when it was discovered that he had composed dodgy Christmas carols. Gerry took this as a sign to develop his many talents elsewhere. He graduated from Teesside Polytechnic (now Teesside University) with a degree in social studies in 1976, and then attended York University where he gained a certificate in social policy. He started out as a social worker in Bradford in the late 1970s; and then gained a social work qualification and a master’s in applied social studies in 1980 at Warwick University (where I met him). After four years as a social worker in Halifax, he was employed by Nottingham social services from 1984 to 1985. On retirement in 2012, Gerry joined the Unite union and devoted his considerable energy and skill to challenging inequalities and campaigning for change. One of his most notable successes was working with other members of the Unite community to get Leeds city council to reverse its decision to stop providing school transport for teenagers with special needs.He also became involved in supporting the community cafe at All Hallows church, Leeds, which provides meals for those who are hungry. Gerry met Christine McKay, also a social worker, in 1980, and they entered into a civil partnership in 2023. Over the years Gerry and Chris enjoyed many walking holidays in the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland and Scotland. He was a great lover of Irish music and a fine banjo and guitar player. Gerry is survived by Chris, and by his siblings, Ann, Susan, Stephen and Tony.