Barr, Samuel Alexander, fl 1970, convenor, Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Yard, Glasgow

Samuel Alexander Barr (known as Sammy) was born on 20 December 1931 and was an instrumental figure in the historic work-in at Upper Clyde Shipbuilders in 1971. After leaving school at the age of 15 he took up an apprenticeship with Charles Connell and Company, Scotstoun, as a welder and soon became active in the trade unions. Before long he was shop steward for the apprentices and then became shop steward for the welders in the Boilermakers's Society.

In 1968 , the Labour government pronounced that Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Ltd was to be responsible for shipbuilding in the Glasgow area. This decision resulted mainly from the findings of the Geddes Report on British shipbuilding. The report led to the government to force the merger of the five existing shipbuilding companies left, from Clydebank to Govan, into one, which would be known as the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Ltd. The five yards merged were: John Brown & Co (Clydebank) Ltd ; Fairfields (Glasgow) Ltd in Govan; Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd in Linthouse; Charles Connell & Co Ltd in Scotstoun; and Yarrow & Co Ltd also in Scotstoun. The Upper Clyde Shibuilders Yard was to set the bench mark not only for shipbuilding, but for industry as a whole in Britain. At its formation, there were nearly 14,000 people in the work-force. Yet, in 1971 , the company went in to receivership. A 'work-in' was staged, led by shop-stewards, Jimmy Reid and Jimmy Airlie, along with Sammy Barr, who by this point was a leading figure in one of the biggest unions on the shipyards. Their action was partly successful, as in 1972 the government sanctioned the formation of Govan Shipbuilders Ltd , with Scotstoun Marine Ltd a wholly owned subsidiary. However, the existence of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Ltd was ended.

After his retirement Sammy continued working with the trade unions and was also an active member of his community in Partick, Glasgow. He died on 7 May 2012.

From the guide to the Papers of Samuel Alexander Barr, 1931-2012, convenor, Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Yard, Glasgow, Scotland, 1957-1980, (Glasgow University Archives Service)