Derrick White (politician)
Encyclopedia
Derrick O'Clancy White was a writer and political activist originally from Dublin who was a parliamentary candidate initially for the Scottish National Party
and then latterly for the Scottish Socialist Party
in the Lothians.
which took part in the Easter Rising
of 1916, and grandson of Field Marshal Sir George White VC, who was known for holding Ladysmith
during its siege during the Boer War
. White's father died when he was three. After attending Blackrock College
in County Dublin
, White joined the Royal Navy
as a boy recruit at the former HMS Ganges
in Suffolk
. After service in the navy as a communications specialist and marksman, he returned for a short time to Dublin around 1970, variously driving an ambulance for a specialist cardiac service and working in a health club.
White then moved to Scotland
, where he launched health clubs in Glasgow
and Edinburgh
, which operated successfully for a decade. When these businesses dissolved he moved to England
for several years, working for the multinational company, Canon, in training and recruitment before returning to Scotland where he set up his own training consultancy.
, standing as its candidate for the Westminster parliamentary seat of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
in 1997, where he took a 19% share of the vote.
Becoming disillusioned with the SNP, he joined the Scottish Socialist Party
, this time standing for the Scottish Parliament seat of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
in 1999 and the Westminster seat of East Lothian
in 2001. White remained a member of the Scottish Socialist Party.
White wrote a series of books on training, sales, personality profiling, and psychometric testing, and numerous articles on politics for the Scottish Left Review
. White was also frequent contributor to The Glasgow Herald
s letters page, specialising in attacks on what he saw as political hypocrisy. His last published book, Scotland, Frequently Asked Questions: What Every Visitor Needs to Know (2004), is a humorous exploration of the sore points of Scottish history and psychology.
and justifying his move to Spain
. White died of cancer in Spain on September 5, 2007.
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
and then latterly for the Scottish Socialist Party
Scottish Socialist Party
The Scottish Socialist Party is a left-wing Scottish political party. Positioning itself significantly to the left of Scotland's centre-left parties, the SSP campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence....
in the Lothians.
Early life
White was the youngest of three sons of Captain Jack White (1879–1946), founder of the Irish Citizen ArmyIrish Citizen Army
The Irish Citizen Army , or ICA, was a small group of trained trade union volunteers established in Dublin for the defence of worker’s demonstrations from the police. It was formed by James Larkin and Jack White. Other prominent members included James Connolly, Seán O'Casey, Constance Markievicz,...
which took part in the Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
of 1916, and grandson of Field Marshal Sir George White VC, who was known for holding Ladysmith
Ladysmith
Ladysmith is the name of several places:* Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada* Ladysmith, Wisconsin, United States* Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, largest settlement with this name* Ladysmith, New South Wales, Australia...
during its siege during the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
. White's father died when he was three. After attending Blackrock College
Blackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
in County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, White joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a boy recruit at the former HMS Ganges
HMS Ganges (shore establishment)
HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate of the Royal Navy. She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. She was based alternately in Falmouth, Harwich and Shotley...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. After service in the navy as a communications specialist and marksman, he returned for a short time to Dublin around 1970, variously driving an ambulance for a specialist cardiac service and working in a health club.
White then moved to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, where he launched health clubs 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...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, which operated successfully for a decade. When these businesses dissolved he moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for several years, working for the multinational company, Canon, in training and recruitment before returning to Scotland where he set up his own training consultancy.
Political activity
During the 1990s White became active in the Scottish National PartyScottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
, standing as its candidate for the Westminster parliamentary seat of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh may refer to:* Edinburgh East and Musselburgh , a constituency of the Scottish Parliament, at Holyrood, 1999 to present...
in 1997, where he took a 19% share of the vote.
Becoming disillusioned with the SNP, he joined the Scottish Socialist Party
Scottish Socialist Party
The Scottish Socialist Party is a left-wing Scottish political party. Positioning itself significantly to the left of Scotland's centre-left parties, the SSP campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence....
, this time standing for the Scottish Parliament seat of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Musselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
in 1999 and the Westminster seat of East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
in 2001. White remained a member of the Scottish Socialist Party.
White wrote a series of books on training, sales, personality profiling, and psychometric testing, and numerous articles on politics for the Scottish Left Review
Scottish Left Review
The Scottish Left Review is a bi-monthly publication of the political-left in Scotland. Established in 2000 by several figures of the Scottish left including Henry McCubbin, Jimmy Reid, Roseanna Cunningham and John McAllion it collects articles on a number of issues written by various individuals...
. White was also frequent contributor to The Glasgow Herald
The Herald (Glasgow)
The Herald is a broadsheet newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, and available throughout Scotland. As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 47,226, giving it a lead over Scotland's other 'quality' national daily, The Scotsman, published in Edinburgh.The 1889 to 1906 editions...
s letters page, specialising in attacks on what he saw as political hypocrisy. His last published book, Scotland, Frequently Asked Questions: What Every Visitor Needs to Know (2004), is a humorous exploration of the sore points of Scottish history and psychology.
Later life
Prior to his death he had completed a further book, giving a tongue-in-cheek view of what's wrong with BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and justifying his move to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. White died of cancer in Spain on September 5, 2007.