Mick's fighting spirit lives on
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Labour councillor and well-known campaigner.
Mick Williams, from Penkhull, died in hospital on Thursday after battling a lung condition for more than 18 months.
Friends and colleagues today described the former Burslem councillor as a 'stubborn and determined man'.
Historian Fred Hughes, from Burslem, said: "I knew Mick over many decades. We worked closely together as colleagues in the Labour party.
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"I know that many of his former constituents will miss him dearly. He was an excellent public servant."
Mr Williams, who was in his late 70s, had attended Hanley High as a youngster.
He went on to gain an apprenticeship with the Post Office and enrolled at Staffordshire University to study telecoms engineering in 1950.
In the 1970s, he was elected onto Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Three years later, he enrolled on a politics course at Keele University after admitting he knew 'little about the job'.
Mr Williams championed many causes over the decades and had been a key member of the campaign group Democracy4Stoke, which he helped set up in 2002. It was aimed at fighting plans for an elected mayor in the city.
Fellow campaigner and former councillor Mike Barnes, from Longton, said: "I spoke to Mick only last week and I knew that he hadn't been well for quite some time. He had had problems with his breathing for more than a year."
Mr Barnes, who got to know him through Democracy4Stoke, added: "At first, Mick was a just a colleague. But in the end, he became a very close friend of mine.
"He was one of the people who I respected most in the city for his integrity and his determination. He always fought for what he believed in and he will be sorely missed."
Mr Williams hit the headlines in 2004 when he announced he was suing the Labour party after being barred from standing as an election candidate.
He also helped found anti-racism group, the North Staffordshire Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (NorSCARF), and served as vice-chairman of North Staffordshire Trades Union Congress (TUC).
Jason Hill, North Staffs TUC president and NorSCARF co-founder, said: "He was a friend and a colleague. He was a man of principle.
"Sometimes he would appear to be stubborn, but it was only because he had principles which he would not compromise."
Email your tributes to tributes@thesentinel.co.uk
Comments
by Backdoored
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 8:58PM
“You are an obvious passionate disciple of the man -and all he stood for. I'm sure that eulogies will reflect those sentiments at his coming funeral. He was a dedicated public servant -and a concerned one.
I will just leave it at that in this sad time. He will be missed there's no doubt about that -if only for his 'never say die' robust character -and readiness to take the fight to the enemy; bright eyed and bushy tailed. Never a dull moment at the bar or round a table of beer.
RIP Mick”
by mole10
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 3:26PM
“Hmmm.
I've heard all the 'warts and all' stuff many times over many decades regarding Mick and thought it a most pointless exercise.
He was an extremely successful man in everything he turned his hand to, including politics.
But that will be too much for some to contemplate and too much for some to bear.
I'm glad I truly admired him and thank him for all the help he gave me.
He was really quite brilliant.”
by Backdoored
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 1:23PM
“by mole10 -..."If you say so." -unquote.
Yes, I suppose that's exactly it. I say so.
Mick would be delighted with that sort of inane comment. I can see that wry smile now.... Oh, and the chuckle that went with it.
As the headlines says -Mick's (fighting) spirit lives on.... in the vein he would have recognised -if only a hint, -controversially so.”
by mole10
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 11:29AM
“If you say so.”
by Backdoored
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 11:41PM
“Not all will agree with the comments expressed on here. But now is not the time to be critical. Although when it comes to 'official obituaries' -they do represent a more balanced 'warts and all' picture.”
by mole10
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 11:35AM
“Mick changed the course of history in Stoke-on-Trent and was an ultra loyal member of the Labour Party and the co-op Party whom abided by the rule book at all times.
He never let any of his friends down and in any debate on any politcal subject, his views counted.
As of his voting intentions, you didn't really have to ask, but on occassions, he informed all why they were tactically wrong and the room responded by suopporting his views.
If you thought you were right and Mick thought you were wrong, you could be reasonably advised that you were wrong.
In a word, brilliant.”
by Andy_Platt
Monday, January 14 2013, 7:34PM
“I have known Mick Williams for over thirty years and hugely admired him. We did not always agree but we got through good times and bad times. His political work will always be respected but what should not be forgotten was his work in refereeing local [and perhaps more distant] rugby union games. It was one of the loves of his life.
Mick you will always be remembered”
by Nicky_Davis_
Monday, January 14 2013, 9:51AM
“I'm very sad indeed to learn that Mick is no longer with us. He was, it seemed to me, a proper socialist, with very strong principles of democracy and fairness.”