It is our sad duty to advise you that our friend and GMB Stalwart, Eric Batty, passed away yesterday, his 67th birthday, after a brave fight against illness.

Eric was known the length and breadth of this region and across the union for his absolute commitment to GMB, its members, its values and for his common sense and plain talking.

Eric was a respected Convenor and Branch Secretary in Rotherham Council, a long serving member of Regional Council and a member of our Regional Executive Committee.

He was a regular Congress delegate and an influential member of the union's Branch Working Party, with which he shared many of his innovative ways of promoting this union which he loved. Above all, Eric was a lovely man and he will be very sadly missed.

We will advise of the funeral arrangements in due course.