Gordon S Carruthers

Gordon Evan Stuart Carruthers was born in Swansea. He obtained an apprenticeship as carpenter/joiner, joined a trade union as an apprentice and has since then been heavily involved in trade union activities and political activities contacted with his trade union activities. He has also been involved in many organisations on a voluntary basis.

As an apprentice, Gordon Carruthers became a shop steward and a branch officer for the Woodworkers union, the ASW. He was Picket Leader for South Wales in the 1972 Building Strike, after which he was supported by the membership to represent them at the National Delegation Conferences, 1972-1980, and also the Trades Union Congress (TUC) 1976-1980. He attended and spoke at Wales TUC, and at the Labour Party of Wales conferences on behalf of his trade union, Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT). He was a Regional Council Member and sat as a Member of Regional Council Committee of UCATT, as well as being Branch Secretary of Swansea 1st UCATT.

Gordon Carruthers has also been the West Glamorgan County Association of Trades Council delegate to the TUC Education Committee (Wales), and Vice Chairman of Swansea Trade Union Council, and EC member of the later. He has been a delegate to Labour Association, serving as an executive member on behalf of the trade unions, Chairman of the Townhill Ward Branch of the Labour Association, the Convener of the Trades Union within Swansea City Council Building Department, and a member of Swansea Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, on which he served as trade union representative. He has also been the trade union member of the Appeals Tribunal, Supplementary Benefits.

As well as his trade union activities, Gordon Carruthers has also been involved in many organisations. He is a Serving brother of the Order of St John, having been a member of the St John Ambulance Brigade since 1937, serving as Secretary/Treasurer of the Swansea Division, West Glamorgan County for over 27 years. He has also been an executive member of the International Year of the Disabled Committee, and served on Swansea Council of Voluntary Services. He has been a member of the Advisory Committee of the Swansea Teenager Community Services (STACS), delegated from the Swansea Trade Union Council. He was also a workpeople's representative on West Glamorgan Disablement Advisory Committee and the West Glamorgan District Manpower Committee (MSC).

Gordon Carruthers is also a member of the Labour Party and Llafur (History of the Welsh Working Class).

Source: Gordon Curruthers 'West Glamorgan County Council Election, Biographical Notes'.

From the guide to the Carruthers Collection (2nd deposit), 1957- November 1997, (Swansea University)