Ernest Geoffrey Beynon (4 October 1926 – 21 October 2012) 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. Born in Sheerness in

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

,Meryl Thompson,
Geoff Beynon obituary
, ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'', 17 December 2012 Beynon attended

Borden Grammar School Borden Grammar School is a grammar school with academy status in Sittingbourne, Kent, England, which educates boys aged 11–18. A small number of girls have also been admitted to the Sixth Form. The school holds specialist status in sports. H ...

, then the

University of Bristol , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

, from which he received a degree in mathematics. After completing

National Service National service is the system of voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939. The ...

with the

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

, he returned to Bristol where he qualified as a teacher. He worked at

Thornbury Grammar School Marlwood School (founded 1606) is a state-funded secondary school currently part of the CSET academy chain. Located at Alveston, South Gloucestershire, it is situated on the B3561 on the outskirts of the south-west of the village. Marlwood Scho ...

and then St George Grammar School (near St George's Park) in Bristol. He joined the Assistant Masters' Association (AMA), and from 1964 worked as its full-time Assistant Secretary. In 1978, the AMA merged with the

Association of Assistant Mistresses The Association of Assistant Mistresses (AAM) was a 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 ...

to form the Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association, and Beynon became its joint general secretary the following year.Beynon, Ernest Geoffrey
, ''

Who Was Who ''Who's Who'' is a reference work. It is a book, and also a CD-ROM and a website, giving information on influential people from around the world. Published annually as a book since 1849, it lists people who influence British life, according to i ...

'' As joint leader of the union, Beynon championed the introduction of a "conscience clause", meaning that even if the union voted to take industrial action, individual members could decide not to take part. In 1986, he signed the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Bill, which removed union negotiating rights and introduced performance-related pay, something he described as one of his "most difficult decisions". He represented the union on the Burnham Committee for many years, and was its chair from 1985 until it was abolished in 1987. During his time as joint general secretary, membership of the union increased from 80,000 to 120,000, principally through efforts being made for the first time to recruit primary school teachers. Beynon retired in 1987, thereafter serving on a number of committees, including the executive of the

Welwyn Garden City Welwyn Garden City ( ) is a town in Hertfordshire, England, north of London. It was the second garden city in England (founded 1920) and one of the first new towns (designated 1948). It is unique in being both a garden city and a new town and ...

Society.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beynon, Geoff 1926 births 2012 deaths 20th-century British Army personnel Alumni of the University of Bristol General Secretaries of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers People from Sheerness Royal Artillery personnel Military personnel from Kent