United he stands ...70 years on

SO proud . . . Tommy Lindop

FORMER electrician Tommy Lindop has become the first person to receive an honour marking 70 years’ membership of union Unite.

The great-grandfather has received the first 70-year pin and official certificate from Britain’s biggest trade union. Family, friends and fellow trade unionists attended Brierfield Residential Home, Failsworth, where the 89 year old lives, for the ceremony.

Daughter Pat Lindop, from Chadderton, said: “We are so proud to say we have been brought up by someone who has always stood by his beliefs and never backed down. He was very emotional when he received his badge, very choked.”

Tommy, originally from Liverpool, has actually been a union member for 73 years. He joined the Electrical Trade Union — which eventually merged with Unite — as a teenage apprentice and went on to work all over the country.

Eventually settling in Failsworth, Tommy worked for Norweb before retiring when he was 65. But the former shop steward and chairman of Unite’s Manchester Central branch continued to be an active unionist.

Arthur Adshead, current branch chairman, said: “As far as we are aware, Tommy is the first person who has had a 70-year badge from Unite. Tommy has always been a person who has stood for other employees and looked after their health and safety.”