Jimmy Knapp
Encyclopedia
James Knapp was a prominent British
trade unionist and, successively, General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen
(NUR) and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
(RMT). He served on the General Council of the Trade Union Congress from 1983 and was President of Congress in 1994.
Knapp was born into a railway family in Hurlford
, Ayrshire
in 1940, and commenced work on the railways at the age of 15. By the age of 18 he had become branch collector for the National Union of Railwaymen; and by 21 he was NUR branch secretary. He rose through the union ranks becoming a full-time official at the age of 31. He came to London in 1972 as NUR HQ organiser and in 1983, at the age of 43, he was elected General Secretary of the union.
He died of cancer
in Bromley
, Greater London
, aged 60; he was survived by his wife Eva.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
trade unionist and, successively, General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen
National Union of Railwaymen
The National Union of Railwaymen was a trade union of railway workers in the United Kingdom. It an industrial union founded in 1913 by the merger of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants , the United Pointsmen and Signalmen's Society and the General Railway Workers' Union .The NUR...
(NUR) and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers is a trade union in the United Kingdom which unionises transport workers. It has more than 80,000 members, and its current general secretary is Bob Crow...
(RMT). He served on the General Council of the Trade Union Congress from 1983 and was President of Congress in 1994.
Knapp was born into a railway family in Hurlford
Hurlford
Hurlford is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Including Crookedholm, it has a population of 4,968. Hurlford's former names include Whirlford and Hurdleford. The village was named Whirlford as a result of a ford crossing the River Irvine east of Hurlford Cross, near Shawhill...
, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
in 1940, and commenced work on the railways at the age of 15. By the age of 18 he had become branch collector for the National Union of Railwaymen; and by 21 he was NUR branch secretary. He rose through the union ranks becoming a full-time official at the age of 31. He came to London in 1972 as NUR HQ organiser and in 1983, at the age of 43, he was elected General Secretary of the union.
He died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in Bromley
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
, Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, aged 60; he was survived by his wife Eva.