Willie Fitzpatrick - RIP

An old friend passed away recently - Willie Fitzpatrick whom I first met in the early 1980s as members of NUPE's youth advisory committee, in the days before NUPE merged with COHSE and NALGO to form Unison - we both sported moustaches in those days.

Willie (also know as Billy) went on to become an Edinburgh Labour councillor and an authentic working class voice amongst a talented Labour group which included the likes of Keith Geddes, David Begg and Mark Lazarowicz.

Willie was a real character, opinionated, passionate and occasionally barking mad - he appeared at my NUPE office in Edinburgh one day seeking my advice after he'd got into a infamous 'scrape' with the Council leader, Mark Lazarowicz.

Willie said he was facing expulsion from the Labour group over his behaviour so I gave him the only good advice possible in the circumstances - he needed to apologise unreservedly ahead of the Labour group meeting later that same day.

Typical Willie, he refused, he could be as stubborn as a mule, but I wrote a letter for him nonetheless, got it typed up in the office and said he should reflect on things - before he went on his way.

The next day I learned that Willie had escaped expulsion and remained a Labour councillor until 2007.

A good and decent man - passionate about his community.

https://nen.press/tag/billy-fitzpatrick/ 

OOR BILLY

BILLY FITZPATRICK HAS DIED AFTER A PERIOD OF ILL HEALTH

Billy’s family posted this very sad news on Facebook yesterday:

This morning he passed away at the Western General surrounded by loves ones.

He asked that friends, family, acquaintances, people from his beloved North Edinburgh, and old comrades were given the news when the time came, and in his own words he had a good kick at the baw.

When funeral arrangements are made we’ll update again, thanks x

A proud trade unionist and a popular local councillor who fought for his community, Billy went on to share his negotiating skills and vast experience when he retired from front-line party politics.

Billy supported a number of important community projects, including Granton Information Centre, Royston Wardieburn Community Centre (he chaired both of these long-established community organisations) and North Edinburgh Arts.

Proud ‘Roystoner’ Billy featured in the recent ‘Quiet Heroes‘ exhibition at Madelvic House granton:hub.

Billy wasn’t always so quiet – it’s fair to say that oor Billy could be passionate, fiery even, and he had his fair share of brushes with the Labour Party hierarchy! – but Royston’s very own Quiet Hero fought North Edinburgh’s corner loyally for over forty years.

A genuine working class community stalwart, they just don’t make politicians like Billy Fitzpatrick any more. And our communities, our cities and our country are all the poorer for that.

Farewell, Billy, my dear old Comrade. We shared many good times together, and some dreadful ones too. Throughout all that time, you never changed: loyal, steadfast and honest to the very end.

How we will miss you.