Enoch Humphries
Encyclopedia
Enoch Humphries was a Scottish trade unionist and President of the Fire Brigades Union
(FBU) and the Scottish Trades Union Congress
.
, South Lanarkshire
. He attended St David's Primary school and Townhead secondary school in Glasgow
until he left school aged 14.
He worked several jobs, the last as a cellerman for a whisky firm, before entering war service with the Royal Air Force
, which Humphries had joined in 1948. Humphries resigned from the Communist Party in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution
.
Humphries ran unsuccessfully for the position of General Secretary of the Fire Brigade’s Union in 1964, losing to Terry Parry by 2,000 votes. Humphries assumed Parry’s position as President of the Fire Brigades Union, an office he held until 1977. In 1968, Humphries served as President of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.
On the day of his death, all of Strathclyde
's fire stations flew their flags at half staff. He donated his body to medical science.
Fire Brigades Union
The Fire Brigades Union is a trade union in the United Kingdom for wholetime Firefighters , Retained Duty System and Emergency Control Room staff...
(FBU) and the Scottish Trades Union Congress
Scottish Trades Union Congress
The Scottish Trades Union Congress is the co-ordinating body of trade unions, and local Trades Councils, in Scotland. With 39 affiliated unions as of 2007, the STUC represents around 630,000 trade unionists....
.
Early life
Humphries was born in RutherglenRutherglen
Rutherglen is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In 1975, it lost its own local council and administratively became a component of the City of Glasgow. In 1996 Rutherglen was reallocated to the South Lanarkshire council area.-History:...
, South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
. He attended St David's Primary school and Townhead secondary school in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
until he left school aged 14.
He worked several jobs, the last as a cellerman for a whisky firm, before entering war service with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Fire Service career
After demobilization in 1946, Humphries joined the Fire Service and the Fire Brigades Union. He soon became a delegate to the area committee and was elected Glasgow area sector secretary in 1949. He was greatly influenced by the General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, John Horner. Horner was a member of the Communist Party of Great BritainCommunist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
, which Humphries had joined in 1948. Humphries resigned from the Communist Party in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution
Hungarian Revolution
Hungarian Revolution may refer to:* The Hungarian Revolution of 1848.* The Hungarian Revolution of 1919, which led to the formation of the Hungarian Soviet Republic headed by Béla Kun.* The Hungarian Revolution of 1956....
.
Humphries ran unsuccessfully for the position of General Secretary of the Fire Brigade’s Union in 1964, losing to Terry Parry by 2,000 votes. Humphries assumed Parry’s position as President of the Fire Brigades Union, an office he held until 1977. In 1968, Humphries served as President of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.
Retirement
During retirement, Humphries served as Vice-Chair of the Scottish Pensioners Forum.On the day of his death, all of Strathclyde
Strathclyde
right|thumb|the former Strathclyde regionStrathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created by the Local Government Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc Act 1994...
's fire stations flew their flags at half staff. He donated his body to medical science.