Missing Steve Baynham
12th July 2012
A
large CWU contingent joined the family and friends of Steve Baynham
to pay their last respects to a man who loyally served the CWU and
its predecessor unions for decades.
With the general secretary, president, DGST and virtually the
entire telecoms executive in attendance, a huge turnout -
reflecting the respect in which Steve was held by his peers -
included reps from many branches across the country, retired
national officers and numerous local and national BT managers.
After joining the POEU as a 16-year-old apprentice in 1972, Steve
quickly became an active trade unionist, striving for working
people in many capacities, culminating in his election as the
much-loved secretary of the South Wales branch.
NEC member and close branch friend and colleague Karen Rose, who
outlined Steve's extraordinary contribution in an emotional
eulogy, told the Voice: "As we drove from the Church to the
Crematorium we noticed lines of Openreach vans parked on the both
sides of the road at the entrance to the Crematorium. Outside the
chapel was a throng of Openreach Engineers in their work gear
waiting to pay their respects.
"It was quite a sight and I know the family were overwhelmed
in a nice way. "One of our national officers said to me:
'I don't know of many branch secretaries whose funeral
would see a turn out from the members like this'.
"This isn't something I can confirm or otherwise - but to
me this was just another indicator of the respect and admiration
that the members had for Steve.
"He was a very special person, a one off even, whose life has
made such a difference to the lives of others. And because of the
legacy he leaves this will continue to be the case for a very long
time to come."
Read Karen Rose's personal tribute to Steve Baynham.
