Branch plants memorial tree for John Mulgrew
 On
Monday 1 December, the family, friends and union
collegaues of John Mulgrew gathered to dedicate
a memorial tree to John in Princes Street Gradens.
Branch President John Stevenson, paid the following
tribute.
Family, colleagues and friends of Jocky. Life
is not the same for all of us since that sad
day in August when we lost Jocky. Our thoughts
at this time are with all of Jocky's family
and friends as we come closer to the festive
season with all the emotions and memories that
time of year always brings.
The grief may be starting to heal. The sadness
is gradually being replaced by warm and grateful
memories. And those memories will carry on not
just for us, but for all of Edinburgh with this
memorial tree.
We are not here today to grieve. We are here
to celebrate Jocky. To celebrate his commitment
to the union and to serving working people in
Edinburgh. We are here to celebrate his commitment
to public services and for having the energy
and integrity to fight for those services -
not just for the people that deliver them -
but for the thousands who depend on them.
 We
are here to celebrate his love of people. His
sense of fun. The laughs we had with him and
the laughs he gave us with his long history
of funny and often bizarre adventures.
And I have got to say we are also here to celebrate
his great commitment to Heart of Midlothian
Football club - who in a special testimony of
their own - went out and beat one half of the
'old firm' just two days ago.
I also want to thank John Ross for all the
work he has done to make this memorial a reality.
It has not been easy but as usual John has delivered.
There aren't many people who would or could
have seen this through with the diligence he
has. It is testament to his love of Jocky.
You may have noticed that the tree is overlooked
by the Ross Bandstand. I am not sure how Jocky
would feel about his memorial being overseen
daily by a Ross. He would probably be resigned
to it with a comment like "What's new?"
The tree is a White Birch. The poet Sandra
Barr wrote this poem to her father drawing parallels
with the white birch. I think it has some parallels
for us.
The white birch ages
Its parchment becomes layered
with the constant confrontation and survival
of the offerings of nature.
Its authority and strength of dignity
envelop a lifestream
a lifestream with its roots
In enduring memories
Of the ecstasy and abandon of youth.
A lifestream which spreads upward
and finds expression in gentle new growth;
tendrils which are vulnerable yet eager
with a wisdom
Born of intimacy through time
with Blizzards And gentle breezes.
The tree can grow as high as 60 feet and will
be here for many, many years to come, celebrating
Jocky.
The plaque has been deliberately placed so
that the backdrop is the fountain and the castle
rather than the church. We think Jocky would
have wanted that. Not just to reflect his wishes
for a humanist celebration but also because
the backdrop is two of the great icons of Edinburgh
- a place he loved.
Jocky brought so much to all of us and he was
taken away from us too soon. The very least
he deserves and the very least we can give him
is this memorial that we can visit and that
down the years will tell all those who pass
this way just how much we treasured him.
John Mulgrew
The Branch is mourning the tragic loss of John
Mulgrew who died on Monday 4 August 2008 at
the age of 50. John had been battling cancer
throughout the year.
John served the Branch for some 20 years. As
the Branch's Service Conditions Co-ordinator,
John had been our lead negotiator and secretary
of the Staff Side of all the non-teaching trade
unions since the UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch
was formed in 1996.
As a NALGO Lothian Region Branch shop steward
in the old Assessors Department, John came to
the fore during the 1989 pay strike. Soon after
- and at a time of crisis in the branch - John
stepped forward into the hot seat as Service
Conditions Officer, leading negotiations and
representation for the 6,600 strong branch.
It was a step into a very pressurised role
at a very difficult time and the union owes
him a great debt for the work he took on then
and in the following years into the new Branch
of almost 10,000 members.
John had to head up some of the most difficult
and unpopular negotiations we have ever had
to face when the new City of Edinburgh Council
was formed. In the tensions and debates those
negotiations brought, in the equal pay fight
and in the run up to Single Status, John always
remained calm and reasoned as he explained the
issues to members at meetings.
Outwith the spotlight, John was responsible
for dozens of negotiated agreements that brought
many benefits and rights for the workforce.
Through his legendary filing systems, John
brought order from chaos, even if sometimes
it seemed he was the only one who could understand
the system!
John had an infectious enthusiasm for life.
His family, his music and Heart of Midlothian
Football Club were his three great loves. Tales
about his legendary visits to 'T in the Park'
and other festivals and concerts, along with
a dance style that probably the less is said
about the better, were legend. Not long before
his death he had still been hoping he might
make it to 'T in The Park' this year.
If stories of rock festivals were legend, they
never surpassed his expeditions following Hearts
on their occasional forays into Europe. Those
of us who were glad to be his pals are still
telling and re-telling the stories, the calamities,
the fun and the sheer enthusiasm John put into
these adventures.
John was a trade unionist who worked from a
simple belief in fairness and equality and a
willingness and desire to help people. That
was also reflected in his life outwith the union.
There are many, many people - trade union members,
of course, but others too - who have reason
to be thankful for John's intervention on their
behalf.
As in all walks of life, we have our ups and
downs in the union. We can't say we never argued.
But we can say that you could rarely talk with
or indeed about 'Jocky' without a smile, a laugh
and a story.
The warmth felt far and wide for John has been
so evident in recent months. Receptionists,
cleaners, social workers, committee staff, catering
staff, senior officers, politicians, trade union
officials and locals in the pub have all stopped
me to ask how John had been doing, urging me
to pass on their best wishes to him.
John will be greatly missed as a comrade and
a friend. Our thoughts are with his family and
his closest friends who have been there for
him through his illness.
John Stevenson
Branch President
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