Neil_Greatrex

Neil Greatrex

Neil Greatrex

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Neil Greatrex (1 April 1951, Basford, Nottinghamshire, England – 9 July 2019)[1][2] was an English miner, trade unionist, fraudster, scab, and president of the Union of Democratic Mineworkers (UDM).

Early life

He attended Greenwood Drive Junior School and Mowlands Intermediate School in Kirkby-in-Ashfield. He then went to Ashfield Comprehensive School (Ashfield School, Kirkby-in-Ashfield).

Welbeck Colliery in June 2008

Career

From a mining family, his grandfather, father, and three older brothers also worked as miners, one of his first jobs at the pit was working with the pit ponies.[3]

He worked at Bentinck Colliery, on the B6018 in the south-west of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, from 1965 to 1985.

UDM

The UDM was formed in 1985 after the miners' strike led to a split from the National Union of Mineworkers.

Fraud trial

With Mick Stevens (UDM general secretary), Greatrex appeared in court on 20 May 2011, accused of stealing almost £150,000 from a fund intended to help sick miners.[4] Their trial began in March 2012. Greatrex abused his position as a trustee of the fund by paying for work on his own home.[5]

On 3 April 2012 the jury found Greatrex guilty of all 14 charges, they found Stevens not guilty.[6][7][8][9] Greatrex was advised by the judge to expect a custodial sentence.[7] He was jailed for four years.[10]

In December 2012, Birmingham Crown Court ordered Greatrex to repay over £200,000.[11]

Personal life

He married Sheila Waterhouse in 1972 and had two daughters (born 1975 and 1982). He lived in Teversal.

Greatrex died on 9 July 2019 from complications of a brain haemorrhage.[12]

References

  1. [1]
    "Welfare Financial Services Limited - Company Profile - Endole". Suite.endole.co.uk.
  2. [2]
    "Neil GREATREX - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk.
  3. [3]
    "A Lifetime in Mining", BBC Nottingham, 9 May 2008
  4. [4]
    "UDM leaders Neil Greatrex and Mick Stevens deny charity thefts", Chad, 20 May 2011
  5. [5]
    Ex-Nottinghamshire union leader 'did not see invoices', BBC News, 30 March 2012
  6. [6]
    UDM leader guilty of stealing from miners' charity, This is Nottingham, 3 April 2012
  7. [7]
    Ex-Union of Democratic Mineworkers leader Neil Greatrex guilty of theft, BBC News, 3 April 2012
  8. [8]
    Emma Sword, Ex-miners' leader Neil Greatrex found guilty of theft, The Independent, 3 April 2012
  9. [9]
    "Volunteers needed to patrol city streets | This is Nottingham". www.thisisnottingham.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  10. [10]
    'Greedy' former union leader Neil Greatrex jailed for theft, BBC, 27 April 2012
  11. [11]
    Jonathan Last (18 December 2012). "Miners' charity embezzler slapped with £200,000 reparation bill". Civil Society. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  12. [12]
    Topping, Andrew (25 July 2019). "Former UDM leader and miners strike figure Neil Greatrex has died". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
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