The Maritime Worker Te Whanganui-a-Tara

Vale Paul Palmer

By Jim King Wellington Branch Secretary

It is great sadness we received news that former Cooks and Stewards official Paul Palmer passed away on Sunday 11 June.

Paul served as Cooks and Stewards Union Assistant Secretary and Assistant National Secretary (1983 – 1989). The above picture is from 1989.

Paul’s contribution to the Union was noted in the late Gerard Hill’s book The Cooks and Stewards Union: A memoir

“Dave Graham [former National Secretary of the Federated Cooks and Stewards Union] says that when he was National Secretary, he was skilfully assisted by Paul, a Londoner and Chelsea supporter. Paul served as assistant National Secretary for six years. In 1983, Paul Palmer won the Assistant National Secretary position in a contested race. He had been a member of the National Union of Seamen (UK) in 1966. When they voted to strike Paul hit the bricks on day one. Paul retired on 2 February 2015.”

The last vessel Paul sailed on was the rail ferry Kaiarahi. RIP Brother!