George Gibson (trade unionist)
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George Gibson CH
(3 April 1885 – 4 February 1953) was a British mental hospital
attendant, trade unionist and public servant, who was general secretary
of the National Asylum Workers' Union, Mental Hospital and Institutional Workers' Union and Confederation of Health Service Employees
from 1913 to 1948. He was ruined through his, largely innocent, association with fraud
ster Sidney Stanley
which was exposed by the Lynskey tribunal
in 1948.
Gibson was born in Calton
, a suburb of Glasgow
, the son of Irish-born Johnston Gibson, a "drysalter
", or maker of vinegar and castor oil, who later successively owned a fish and chip shop, a fish shop and a newsagent. His mother, Mary, was Scottish. Although a good scholar, Gibson left school at the age of eleven and held a variety of jobs before moving to England in about 1909 to become an attendant at Winwick Asylum in Warrington
.
On 10 July 1910, he was one of the co-founders of the National Asylum Workers' Union and was elected its first Honorary Secretary. He became Vice-President in 1911 and Assistant Organising Secretary in 1912. In 1913 he became full-time General Secretary, a position he held until his retirement in 1948 (the NAWU becoming the Mental Hospital and Institutional Workers' Union in 1930 and amalgamted to form the Confederation of Health Service Employees in 1946). He was elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress
in 1928 and remained a member until his retirement in 1948. He chaired the General Council and was President of the TUC
in 1940/41.
He enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery
in 1915 and was commissioned in 1917. He was demobbed in 1919 as a substantive Lieutenant
, but as he was commanding a battery
he was probably acting in a higher rank. He had been twice mentioned in despatches, and was gassed, which left him a semi-asthmatic for the rest of his life.
From 1940 to 1941 Gibson served as a full-time Director of the Children's Overseas Reception Board
, responsible for evacuating British children overseas. In 1941 he visited both Sweden and the USA on official missions. He also served in many other positions during and after the war, including Vice-Chairman of the National Savings Committee (1939–1949), Director of the Bank of England
(c.1945–1949), Chairman of the North West Regional Board for Industry, Chairman of the North Western Electricity Board and Chairman of the BBC General Council. In 1946 he was appointed Companion of Honour (CH).
In 1949, the findings of the Lynskey Tribunal, that he had used his official influence to assist Sidney Stanley to set up a business in expectation of personal gain, compelled Gibson to resign from all official posts, although he continued to deny all the allegations.
At some time before the First World War he married Ellen Crossfield, a Manchester hotelier's daughter, but she was killed in a tram accident in Blackpool
. He later married Eva Crabtree, whose first husband had been killed in action in 1917. He had one daughter with Ellen Crossfield, and a further five children with Eva.
Order of the Companions of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....
(3 April 1885 – 4 February 1953) was a British mental hospital
Mental Hospital
Mental hospital may refer to:*Psychiatric hospital*hospital in Nepal named Mental Hospital...
attendant, trade unionist and public servant, who was general secretary
General secretary
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
of the National Asylum Workers' Union, Mental Hospital and Institutional Workers' Union and Confederation of Health Service Employees
Confederation of Health Service Employees
The Confederation of Health Service Employees was a United Kingdom trade union representing workers primarily in the National Health Service...
from 1913 to 1948. He was ruined through his, largely innocent, association with fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
ster Sidney Stanley
Sidney Stanley
Sidney Stanley was a Jewish Polish émigré to the UK who became a businessman of precarious ethics before claiming to be a contact man, able to influence politicians and civil servants in return for cash bribes, claims that led to a...
which was exposed by the Lynskey tribunal
Lynskey tribunal
The Lynskey tribunal was a tribunal of inquiry into allegations of corruption among British government ministers and civil servants. The allegations raised public alarm and disgust in the economic climate of austerity that prevailed in contemporary Britain...
in 1948.
Gibson was born in Calton
Calton, Glasgow
Calton is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. The name Calton is derived from the Gaelic "coillduin", which means "wood on the hill". It is situated north of the River Clyde, and just to the east of the city centre...
, a suburb of 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...
, the son of Irish-born Johnston Gibson, a "drysalter
Drysalter
Drysalters were dealers in a range of chemical products, including glue, varnish, dye and colourings. They might supply salt or chemicals for preserving food and sometimes also sold pickles, dried meat or related items...
", or maker of vinegar and castor oil, who later successively owned a fish and chip shop, a fish shop and a newsagent. His mother, Mary, was Scottish. Although a good scholar, Gibson left school at the age of eleven and held a variety of jobs before moving to England in about 1909 to become an attendant at Winwick Asylum in Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
.
On 10 July 1910, he was one of the co-founders of the National Asylum Workers' Union and was elected its first Honorary Secretary. He became Vice-President in 1911 and Assistant Organising Secretary in 1912. In 1913 he became full-time General Secretary, a position he held until his retirement in 1948 (the NAWU becoming the Mental Hospital and Institutional Workers' Union in 1930 and amalgamted to form the Confederation of Health Service Employees in 1946). He was elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
in 1928 and remained a member until his retirement in 1948. He chaired the General Council and was President of the TUC
President of the Trades Union Congress
The President of the Trades Union Congress is a prominent but largely honorary position in British trade unionism.The President is elected at the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress . They officially fill the office for the remainder of the year and then preside over the following...
in 1940/41.
He enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery
Royal Garrison Artillery
The Royal Garrison Artillery was an arm of the Royal Artillery that was originally tasked with manning the guns of the British Empire's forts and fortresses, including coastal artillery batteries, the heavy gun batteries attached to each infantry division, and the guns of the siege...
in 1915 and was commissioned in 1917. He was demobbed in 1919 as a substantive Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, but as he was commanding a battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
he was probably acting in a higher rank. He had been twice mentioned in despatches, and was gassed, which left him a semi-asthmatic for the rest of his life.
From 1940 to 1941 Gibson served as a full-time Director of the Children's Overseas Reception Board
Children's Overseas Reception Board
The Children's Overseas Reception Board was a British organisation that between July and September 1940 evacuated British children from that country in order to escape the Blitz . The children were sent to mainly to Canada, but also to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa...
, responsible for evacuating British children overseas. In 1941 he visited both Sweden and the USA on official missions. He also served in many other positions during and after the war, including Vice-Chairman of the National Savings Committee (1939–1949), Director of the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
(c.1945–1949), Chairman of the North West Regional Board for Industry, Chairman of the North Western Electricity Board and Chairman of the BBC General Council. In 1946 he was appointed Companion of Honour (CH).
In 1949, the findings of the Lynskey Tribunal, that he had used his official influence to assist Sidney Stanley to set up a business in expectation of personal gain, compelled Gibson to resign from all official posts, although he continued to deny all the allegations.
At some time before the First World War he married Ellen Crossfield, a Manchester hotelier's daughter, but she was killed in a tram accident in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
. He later married Eva Crabtree, whose first husband had been killed in action in 1917. He had one daughter with Ellen Crossfield, and a further five children with Eva.