York Guild of Building Master’s Charity for 2011-12 will be: SASH (Safe and Sound Homes)

 www.safeandsoundhomes.org.uk

The York Guild of Building

President: The Rt. Hon. Lord Mayor of York

GEORGE WESTERMAN -FOUNDER MEMBER. 1917-2009

After leaving school in Bubwith George became apprenticed as a bricklayer and immediately started a life long interest in the social and working conditions of building workers. He very soon became secretary of the Malton and Wetherby branch of the AUBTW (later UCATT) and in 1941 became branch secretary of the NFBTO. He was also a delegate to the York Trades Council.

In 1954 he worked very closely with Peter Shepherd in the establishment of theGuild. Representing the Operatives he was a member of the first Guild Council and

remained an active member of the Court for a further 9 years. (see facsimile of the programme for the Inaugural Meeting of the Guild on page 7 of the booklet commemorating the first 50 years of the Guild).

In 1963 he became fulltime Regional Organiser for UCATT. He took particular interest in the training and welfare of apprentices and was secretary to the local Joint Apprentice Committee. He was appointed as a magistrate to the York and Selby Magistrates Court and had a special interest in the Juvenile Court becoming Vice-chairman before being retired at the age of 70.

Together with the late Cllr JP (Jack) Birch (also a Guild member) representing Employers and Employees respectively they were Chair and Vice-Chair of the Advisory Committee to the Building Department of the then York Technical College, a position he held until only a few years ago when the college was reorganised.

Typical of George, when Leonard Cheshire was endeavouring to set up the third of his homes for the long term care of the disabled, (initially ex-servicemen) at Alne Hall in 1956, he organised teams of craftsmen mainly ex-servicemen to provide voluntary skilled labour during the adaptation process.

After retiring from full-time Union responsibilities he set up and organised a very lively social club for retired operatives and their wives. He was also instrumental in founding the York and District Pensioners Association.

In his spare time George supported York Rugby League Club and was made Hon Vice-President in 2003 after 70 yrs membership.

Even after moving into sheltered accommodation at the Glenn, Heworth after his wife died, he organised a social events calendar there and built up an active social life among fellow residents.

His influence on the standards of craftsmanship and the welfare of building operatives during the latter half of the 20^th C was very significant.