Alec Kitson
Alexander Harper Kitson (21 October 1921 – 2 August 1997) was a British trade unionist and Labour Party official.
Kitson grew up in Kirknewton, from where he undertook milk deliveries to Morningside alongside Sean Connery.[1] He studied at Kirknewton School before becoming a lorry driver. He became an active trade unionist, and a full-time union official from 1945. In 1959, he was elected as General Secretary of the Scottish Commercial Motormen's Union, serving until 1971, when he took the union into a merger with the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU)[2]
Kitson chaired the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) in 1966, and was its treasurer from 1974 until 1981. He was also long-term member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party, serving from 1968 until 1986, and was the Chair of the Labour Party in 1980–81.[2] He unsuccessfully contested the General Secretaryship of the TGWU in 1977, serving instead its Deputy General Secretary from 1980 until his retirement in 1986.[1]
Kitson was known as an admirer of the Soviet Union, a position largely influenced by Abe Moffat. He served on the World Peace Council as a supporter of James Lamond, and visited the USSR annually from the 1950s until the 1980s.[3]
In his spare time, Kitson served on the national council of War on Want, on Corstorphine Community Council, and briefly as chairman of Heart of Midlothian FC.[2] In retirement from his union posts, he also served as chairman of the Board of Lothian Buses.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Tam Dalyell, "Obituary: Alec Kitson", The Independent, 4 August 1997
- ^ a b c "KITSON, Alexander Harper", Who Was Who
- ^ Darren G. Lilleker, Against the Cold War, p.187
Trade union offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by | General Secretary of the Scottish Commercial Motormen's Union 1959–1971 | Succeeded by Position abolished |
Preceded by William Scholes | President of the Scottish Trades Union Congress 1966–1967 | Succeeded by Bill McLean |
Preceded by | Deputy General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union 1980–1986 | Succeeded by |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by | Chair of the Labour Party 1980–1981 | Succeeded by |
- v
- t
- e
- 1922: Ernest Bevin
- 1940: Arthur Deakin
- 1955: Jock Tiffin
- 1955: Frank Cousins
- 1969: Jack Jones
- 1978: Moss Evans
- 1985: Ron Todd
- 1992: Bill Morris
- 2004: Tony Woodley
- 1974: Harry Urwin
- 1980: Alec Kitson
- 1986: Bill Morris
- 1992: Jack Adams
- 1999: Margaret Prosser
- 2002: Tony Woodley
- 2003: Jack Dromey
- 1924: John Cliff
- 1935: Arthur Deakin
- 1940: Harold Clay
- 1948: Jock Tiffin
- 1955: Frank Cousins
- 1956: Harry Nicholas
- 1968: Harry Urwin
- 1974: Vacant
- 1985: Eddie Haigh and Larry Smith
- 1988: Eddie Haigh
- 1991: Vacant
- 1999: Barry Camfield and Jimmy Elsby
- 2000: Barry Camfield and Ray Collins
- 1922: Harry Gosling
- 1930: Herbert Kershaw
- 1934: Harry Edwards
- 1948: Edgar Fryer
- 1960: Len Forden
- 1976: Stan Pemberton
- 1982: Walter Greendale
- 1986: Brian Nicholson
- 1988: Daniel Duffy
- 1996: Andy Smith
- 2002: Peter Landles
- 2004: Jimmy Kelly
- Amalgamated Society of Watermen, Lightermen and Bargemen
- Amalgamated Carters, Lurrymen and Motormen's Union
- Amalgamated Association of Carters and Motormen
- Associated Horsemen's Union
- Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union
- Labour Protection League
- National Amalgamated Labourers' Union
- National Union of Docks, Wharves and Shipping Staffs
- National Union of Ships' Clerks, Grain Weighers and Coalmeters
- National Union of Vehicle Workers
- National Amalgamated Coal Workers' Union
- North of England Trimmers' and Teemers Association
- North of Scotland Horse and Motormen's Association
- United Vehicle Workers