British Broadcasting Corporation

watch live BBC News channel
News Front Page
World
UK
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Business
Politics
Health
Education
Science & Environment
Technology
Entertainment
Also in the news
-----------------
Video and Audio
-----------------
Have Your Say
Magazine
In Pictures
Country Profiles
Special Reports

Related BBC sites

Site Version
Page last updated at 18:53 GMT, Wednesday, 21 May 2008 19:53 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version

Footballer turned peer dies at 71

Lord Burlison
Lord Burlison was made a life peer in 1997

A Labour peer who began his career as a professional footballer and went on to become a union leader, has died.

Lord Burlison, who died on Tuesday, was deputy general secretary of the GMB union and a treasurer of the Labour Party. He was made a life peer in 1997.

A panel beater by trade, he played football for Hartlepool United and Lincoln City in the 1950s and 1960s.

He then went on to become an active union member before serving as regional secretary for many years.

A GMB spokesman said: "Tom Burlison was a long-standing and very loyal GMB official who always had the union's interests at heart."

The TUC union also paid tribute. General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of Tom Burlison's death.

"He was a sturdy, down to earth trade unionist, deeply rooted in the North East working class communities from which he sprang.

"As well as playing a major industrial role in his union, his canny political skills provided great service to the Labour Party.

"He will be very much missed and our thoughts are with his family."



E-mail this to a friend Printable version

BBC Tees BBC Tees
Sport, travel, weather, things to do, features and much more

SEE ALSO
Peers urge inheritance tax reform
08 May 08 |  Wiltshire

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
House of Lords
Labour
GMB
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

TOP TEES STORIES
Teeth hacked out in family fight
Woman, 101, in care home reprieve
Seabirds threatened by oil spill

FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS
BBC business editor Robert Peston Robert Peston
Funding for banks the most urgent issue
Icesave website Your stories
UK customers of bank Icesave voice their concerns
Jack Mizon Soldier's journey
Can you go from firefights back to ordinary life?
Skip to top

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Explore the BBC

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific