Bill Speirs
October 2, 2009 by Y.
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Hundreds of mourners pay tribute at funeral of trade union 'giant' Bill Speirs
Oct 2 2009 By John Ferguson
HUNDREDS of mourners said their final goodbyes to trade union "giant" Bill Speirs at a moving funeral service yesterday.
First Minister Alex Salmond and MP George Galloway were among those who turned out to honour the former STUC leader, who died last week.
Other political figures who joined Bill's devastated wife Pat and children David and Jaki included Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray, former leader Wendy Alexander, former health minister Susan Deacon and firebrand socialist Tommy Sheridan.
More than 150 people stood outside Renfrew Town Hall and listened to the humanist service on a PA system after the venue's 250 capacity was reached.
A much-loved figure, Bill died aged 57 after a long illness. He had served the STUC from 1979 to 2006, rising to general secretary in 1998.
At the ceremony, his wife Pat said: "He was committed to what he cared about. He cared endlessly for people and none of us will ever know all the things that he did to help people over the years."
Fighting back tears, she added: "Farewell to my bright, funny, lovable husband. As long as I live, I will wish I still walked with you."
The service included many songs chosen by Bill and, in accordance with his wishes, ended with mourners roaring along to socialist anthem The Internationale.
In his eulogy, Respect MP George Galloway said: "A great oak has fallen in the sparser political forest with the passing of Bill Speirs.
"In many distant parts of the world his death is being noticed and mourned.
"There are people as far away as South Africa and Palestine and indeed many parts of the Arab world, former Yugoslavia, the former USSR, whose lives Bill touched and graced and improved, who today are mourning."
Former first minister Jack McConnell said: "His special contribution was his belief that ordinary people, mobilised and organised, could effect change for themselves and change in others.
"Bill Speirs built bridges between people, not walls to keep people apart.
"Scotland lost a special son last week. We all lost a special friend.
"But we remember today the man, his immense contribution, his fun, his intellect, his style, his inspiration and his values of decency, compassion and respect."
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