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Rab Paterson: A life dedicated to peace, trade unionism and liberation
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FRIENDS, comrades and activists across Scotland are mourning Rab Paterson, and celebrating his life and his lasting political achievements.
Rab combined a career in education, including being headteacher of Rosewell and Hopefield Primaries, with a long and unique contribution to the politics of peace, socialism and national liberation.
Rab said he was already politically motivated when in Primary 7, probably due to the influence of his grandmother who he claimed had a red flag stored under her bed for the revolution that never happened in Britain.
He joined the Labour Party as soon as he was old enough and was a very active member of Militant. He and Jonsen Green established Esk Valley Red Wedge, running rock benefit gigs and raising considerable amounts of money for good causes.
He was active in supporting the miners’ strike and raising funds for it. He was a close friend to both Michael McGahey junior and senior. They established the Midlothian Advice and Resource Centre during this time. It provided food, furniture and money to help the striking miners whom the government had deprived of welfare benefits.
Rab’s work through Midlothian Trades Union Council helped make it the first in Scotland to mark International Workers Memorial Day, along with West Lothian TUC, and it was their resolution that caused it to be recognised by the STUC in 1993, six years ahead of the TUC.
Rab’s commitment to this issue later appeared in his local work commemorating the 1984 Bhopal disaster, educating new generations.
With the threat of war in Iraq looming, Rab helped set up Midlothian Coalition Against the War.
An active trade unionist, with EIS and latterly Unite Community, he continued as secretary of Midlothian Trades Council. He was a principal organiser of Edinburgh and Lothians May Day, and a keen volunteer with Trade Unions in Communities in Edinburgh.
He played key roles in the peace movement, with CND, and in international solidarity movements including South Africa and anti-apartheid, Palestine and Cuba.
He was hugely respected within the Communist Party and the wider movement for his integrity, commitment, and his intellect.
He was the warmest of human beings and was inspirational in his limitless energy for the greatest cause, the liberation of humankind. Rest in Power, Rab.
