In memory of Tina Mackay, Unite officer
2 August 2011
Tina Mackay, our friend, colleague, and regional officer at the
Central London District Office, tragically passed away on Thursday
28 July 2011.
Tina passed away in the most terrible circumstances, the victim
of a hit and run traffic accident near to her home in Tottenham.
There are no words to describe the shock and sense of loss that we
have all immediately felt.
Tina had spent her last day doing what she loved and what she did
best - enthusing, encouraging and guiding her reps in an organising
training session. She was in full swing, imparting her energy and
passion for the union's current efforts to build popular and
effective resistance to the dismantling of our National Health
Service. She later spent a pleasurable evening, over dinner, with a
close friend.
Tina was a life-force - and a force to be reckoned with. She was a
generous, warm-spirited, principled and courageous woman. She was a
warrior for justice and equality. And she was an enormously loyal
and lovable friend to many, many people both within and beyond our
movement. She will leave a huge hole within the health sector, the
region and Unite.
We will all have our own thoughts, feelings and memories at this
saddest of times. We will need to pause and reflect upon this cruel
waste of a vibrant life which so harshly brings some perspective to
all of our other sorrows and problems. Those closest to her will
need to do what we do in our union - support each other. Some
colleagues have spoken about coming together to mourn, but also to
celebrate our friend and comrade, Tina.
Our thoughts and solidarity go to Tina's family in the hope that
some little comfort can be derived from the shared sense of loss
and the huge affection that we all felt - and will continue to feel
- for Tina.
Pete Kavanagh, Unite regional
secretary
