It is with deep sadness that we need to let you know that Gordon Bartlett passed away peacefully at home on the 2nd September surrounded by his family and is now at rest. Gordon was a highly principled person and an active participant in UCU. He was an elected union secretary for City College, Plymouth from UCU’s inception and before that an active participant in NATFHE. An effective case worker, conscientious and stalwart in defending individual member’s grievances and concerns he was a regular attendee at local meetings, a good listener as well as being excellent at debating. As secretary, he kept the minutes of meetings as well as representing the union when the Chair was unable to do so. He responded positively to every campaign and he would always join the picket line, if we were called out on strike. He was a great believer in trade unionism, in defending individual rights and freedoms, in fighting for a fairer and more equitable society as well as securing a decent standard of living for all, in a safer and more humane world.
We have lost a friend, a colleague, a member, an activist and a man of stature. It is rare that a person can combine their ideals with reality but we feel that Gordon did so by pioneering the Access to Higher Education qualification at CCP (formerly Plymouth College of Further Education). This enabled individuals and their families to become socially mobile, thereby improving their standard of living and increasing their life chances and being able to take advantage of the opportunities in the part of our society that has meritocratic principles. He will be missed. He will be remembered. He made his mark. He made a difference. Moreover he managed to embody and enact his principles while keeping his integrity. That is also rare, in this day and age, if not completely unique. We salute a life well lived. He will be missed enormously by colleagues and students alike.