MEMBERS of the Huddersfield Labour and trade union movement are mourning the unexpected death of Chris Patrick last week at his home.
In his late 60s and a life-long socialist, Mr Patrick had for more than 30 years been a loyal supporter of the Socialist Workers’ Party, and of his union Amicus Unite (0605 Branch – Staff) and of Huddersfield Trades Council.
Friend Roger Keely said: “A kind and quiet man who suffered uncomplainingly for decades with ill-health, he could always be relied on either to pass the word about the latest political initiative, or to help raise funds for a Stop the War or Unite Against Fascism coach.
“In recent years he has not been well enough to travel to demonstrations, but he continued to attend weekly Huddersfield SWP meetings as well as his union Branch and the Trades Council.
“He loved dogs and always kept one, until poor health in recent years made it impracticable.”
Mr Patrick was a veteran of the epic and successful six-month strike of technical staff at the large Huddersfield valve manufacturers Hopkinsons’ in the seventies against the victimisation of union convener Granville Clay, then national President of AUEW-TASS. It was shortly after the strike that he joined the SWP.
At one time Mr Patrick was secretary of the Huddersfield Council of Labour, with the task of coordinating between the Trades Council, the Labour Party and the Co-op.
He also had good friends in the Communist Party when its Huddersfield branch was active.
He was a widower, having cared for his wife Mary for many years before she died.
Mr Keely said: “His own sudden and solitary death has shocked and saddened all of us on the left in Huddersfield who knew him.”
