Liverpool Labour veteran Jack Spriggs has died
Tributes are being paid today to veteran Liverpool Labour councillor Jack Spriggs who has sadly died from pneumonia.
The Fazakerley councillor, who was in his mid 70s, was hugely respected on both sides of the city council chamber in which he had a seat since 1991.
He served as Lord Mayor in 2002.
Labour leader Joe Anderson said: "He was an inspiration to everyone and has been a leading figure for years.
"He lived to serve his community and will be remembered for his huge generosity of spirit."
Liberal Democrat Laurence Sidorczuk said: "He was a true gentleman that was respected by all and he will be sadly missed."
UPDATE: His colleagues at transport authority Merseytravel, where he had been vice chairman since May 2005 and Liverpool spokesman since 1996 have paid tribute.
Councillor Dowd said, "It has been my great privilege and pleasure to have known Jack Spriggs for many years. Jack was a staunch trade unionist and an example to all members of the socialist family and beyond.
"Jack Spriggs was a very caring and passionate man whose thoughts were always for others whether they be his family or fellow human beings.
"I shall miss Jack immensely as will many others and my heartfelt condolences go out to Jacks lovely family."
Merseytravel chief executive Neil Scales added: "Jack Spriggs was an immense figure in transport and Liverpool life.
"A larger than life man with a larger than life personality. His wise counsel stood me in good stead over the last twelve years and I will miss his advice."
Cllr Spriggs joined Merseytravel in 1992 and served as chairman of the personnel committee from 1993 to 2005.
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Jack Spriggs - honest, dedicated, and unspun. Among the last of that generation of Labour trade unionists reaching adulthood with the early welfare state, he represented the authentic voice of ordinary working people, and led their struggles against redundancy and injustice at Fisher Bendix in Kirkby, then as a City Councillor. He probably should have called it a day after being a popular Lord Mayor. A good bloke throughout his life, he deserves a good send off. Be sure to pay your respects.
I bumped into Jack a couple of times at the old Trade Union & Unemployed Resource Centre on Hardman Street. Ronnie's right, he really was a classic example of that generation of activists which breathed politics. A man of principle, integrity & commitment. He'll be missed. My condolences to Jack's family.
Always a lovely, warm, welcoming man, with a smile and a cheery word. I was not around in Jack's heyday but we have always had a newspaper cutting pinned on the wall in the LP office, which must be at least 20 years old, where someone was praising him, was it Neil Kinnock? for being a real fire-brand who he was always a bit nervous of coming up against. He looked like a teddy boy with a big quiff! I am sure that news cutting will now be revisited and circulated around the city. Jack was in the chamber on Wednesday night and made a point of order, if I recollect correctly, it seems shocking that he could go so quickly afterwards. He was always encouraging and supportive to me as a new councillor. A fine man, loyal to his beliefs and to his community, unswerving, steadfast, committed and principled. And a friend to all. We shall miss him dearly, there is a big "Jack" shaped hole in Liverpool tonight.
It is from much longer back than 20 years ago and it was far higher praise than Kinnock!
Back in the 1970s at Fisher Bendix, Jack was a union convenor who led the occupation of a factory built on Govt money and about to be closed by a private company.
When offered the opportunity to keep the factory open but with mass redundancies, Jack said:
âÂÂWe cannot be sure who will get the advantage if we accept this offer. But if you continue with the occupation we will win ... We have a golden opportunity to lead Merseyside in a fight against big business. Their whole aim is to make money at the expense of the working class ... Merseyside is waiting for a lead. We have got to have the responsibility to take it ...âÂÂ
There are literally hundreds of people who were grateful to Jack for saving their jobs and the their communities.
R.I.P Jack
the term Gentleman,is loosly used these Days.
Jack Spriggs was a true Gentleman.
I have checked the old press cutting and of course it was in fact Harold Wilson who was praising Jack. Hopefully it will now be shared around a wider community.
Jack Spriggs was my first boss. I was just out of school and assigned a temporary secretarial position at KME where Jack was the managing director. I can only say that this man helped to shape my life. He was my mentor and my friend. A big man with a big heart. He could squarely face even the most powerful of people and with a combination of sound knowledge and reason reduce their arguments to worthlessness. I often used to think he looked like a Philadelphia lawyer when he wore his black overcoat and he could certainly talk like one but there was one a quality that made him stand out from the rest and that was his sheer and utter honesty. I think it was this that had his opponents completely flawed because in the world that Jack took on there wasn't much honesty about. Gentleman Jack - yes that's a very good description of him. I'm so very glad that I have the privilege of saying I knew him well.
Jack Spriggs was my first boss. I was just out of school and assigned a temporary secretarial position at KME where Jack was the managing director. I can only say that this man helped to shape my life. He was my mentor and my friend. A big man with a big heart. He could squarely face even the most powerful of people and with a combination of sound knowledge and reason reduce their arguments to worthlessness. I often used to think he looked like a Philadelphia lawyer when he wore his black overcoat and he could certainly talk like one but there was one a quality that made him stand out from the rest and that was his sheer and utter honesty. I think it was this that had his opponents completely flawed because in the world that Jack took on there wasn't much honesty about. Gentleman Jack - yes that's a very good description of him. I'm so very glad that I have the privilege of saying I knew him well.