Teacher lawyer’s parting brief...

Legal aid . . . NUT senior solicitor Graham Clayton (front right) with branch president Alison Watkinson and joint branch secretaries Tony Harrison (left) and Bryan Beckingham

A TOP union legal eagle met Oldham teachers ahead of his retirement. Graham Clayton, the National Union of Teacher’s (NUT) senior solicitor, was guest speaker at the Oldham branch’s annual meeting.

It was held at the new Failsworth School which has a large and thriving NUT membership. Mr Clayton, who recently announced his retirement, joined the NUT as assistant solicitor in 1976 and became its senior solicitor in 1998.

Joint local branch secretary Bryan Beckingham said: “Graham is known widely as the teachers’ lawyer.

“Graham has been at the centre of union policy and campaigning. He has become an acknowledged expert representing members’ interests in the courts and advocating the case for changes in the law to ministers.”