Albert Percival Coldrick (6 June 1913''England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007'' – 4 December 1999) was a British

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

leader. Coldrick was born in

Wigan Wigan ( ) is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, on the River Douglas, Lancashire, River Douglas. The town is midway between the two cities of Manchester, to the south-east, and Liverpool, to the south-west. Bolton lies to the nor ...

and grew up partly in

Pontypool Pontypool ( cy, Pont-y-pŵl ) is a town and the administrative centre of the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales. It has a population of 28,970. Location It is situated on the Afon Lwyd ri ...

, but back in Wigan from the age of eight. Coldrick's father, also named Percy Coldrick, was a Welsh

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer, and the family moved around as he looked for employment. After finishing his education, Coldrick began working for the

London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMSIt has been argued that the initials LMSR should be used to be consistent with LNER, GWR and SR. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway's corporate image used LMS, and this is what is generally u ...

, initially as a messenger, then in a variety of roles, but was made redundant when he was 20 years old. He found work as a railway porter at Wigan, then as assistant controller there, and in 1946 became controller at

Rowsley railway station The original Rowsley railway station was opened in 1849 by the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway to serve the village of Rowsley in Derbyshire. Opening The original plan for the line was to meet the proposed Ambergate, N ...

, followed rapidly by appointment as Divisional Controller at Manchester Victoria railway station. Coldrick had always been a supporter of trade unionism, inspired by his father forming a short-lived union for rugby players. He joined the

Railway Clerks' Association The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) is a trade union for workers in the transport and travel industries in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its head office is in London, and it has regional offices in Bristol, Derby, Dublin, Manche ...

, and began working for the union full-time in 1948, based in

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...

. Initially, he was given responsibility for staff not working directly on the railways - those in road haulage, waterways, railway hotels and catering. After periods as the secretary for the Western Region and the London Midland region, in 1963 he was promoted to Senior Assistant Secretary. In 1968, he was elected as general secretary of what was now known as the

Transport Salaried Staffs' Association The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) is a trade union for workers in the transport and travel industries in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its head office is in London, and it has regional offices in Bristol, Derby, Dublin, Manche ...

, and he was also elected to serve on the General Council of the Trades Union Congress. Coldrick retired from his trade union posts in 1973. He became chair of a

National Health Service The National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). Since 1948, they have been funded out of general taxation. There are three systems which are referred to using the " ...

appeal tribunal, and sat on the executive of the Industrial Participation Association. In 1974, Coldrick was made an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

. He died in 1999.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coldrick, Percy 1913 births 1999 deaths General Secretaries of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association Members of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress People from Wigan