Neil Greatrex
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Neil Greatrex (1 April 1951, Basford, Nottinghamshire, England – 9 July 2019){{Cite web|url=https://suite.endole.co.uk/insight/company/01984173-welfare-financial-services-limited|title=Welfare Financial Services Limited - Company Profile - Endole|website=Suite.endole.co.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/JpXNgePuAztujHK9UPZ5uvgKwV4/appointments|title=Neil GREATREX - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)|website=Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk}} was an English miner, trade unionist, fraudster and president of the Union of Democratic Mineworkers (UDM).
Early life
He attended Greenwood Drive Junior School and Mowlands Intermediate School in Kirkby-in-Ashfield. He then went to Ashfield Comprehensive School (Ashfield School, Kirkby-in-Ashfield).
Career
From a mining family, his grandfather, father, and three older brothers also worked as miners, one of his first jobs at the pit was working with the pit ponies.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2008/05/09/neil_greatrex_interview_feature.shtml "A Lifetime in Mining"], BBC Nottingham, 9 May 2008
He worked at Bentinck Colliery, on the B6018 in the south-west of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, from 1965 to 1985.
=UDM=
The UDM was formed in 1985 after the miners' strike led to a split from the National Union of Mineworkers.
=Fraud trial=
With Mick Stevens (UDM general secretary), Greatrex appeared in court on 20 May 2011, accused of stealing almost £150,000 from a fund intended to help sick miners.[http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/udm_leaders_neil_greatrex_and_mick_stevens_deny_charity_thefts_1_3402893 "UDM leaders Neil Greatrex and Mick Stevens deny charity thefts"], Chad, 20 May 2011 Their trial began in March 2012. Greatrex abused his position as a trustee of the fund by paying for work on his own home.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-17559985 Ex-Nottinghamshire union leader 'did not see invoices'], BBC News, 30 March 2012
On 3 April 2012 the jury found Greatrex guilty of all 14 charges, they found Stevens not guilty.[http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/UDM-leader-guilty-stealing-miners-charity/story-15704549-detail/story.html UDM leader guilty of stealing from miners' charity], This is Nottingham, 3 April 2012[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-17602275 Ex-Union of Democratic Mineworkers leader Neil Greatrex guilty of theft], BBC News, 3 April 2012Emma Sword, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/exminers-leader-neil-greatrex-found-guilty-of-theft-7615262.html Ex-miners' leader Neil Greatrex found guilty of theft], The Independent, 3 April 2012{{cite web |url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Fall-grace-UDM-hero-Neil-Greatrex/story-15713544-detail/story.html |title=Volunteers needed to patrol city streets | This is Nottingham |website=www.thisisnottingham.co.uk |access-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505162236/http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Fall-grace-UDM-hero-Neil-Greatrex/story-15713544-detail/story.html |archive-date=5 May 2013 |url-status=dead}} Greatrex was advised by the judge to expect a custodial sentence.
He was jailed for four years.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-17866402 'Greedy' former union leader Neil Greatrex jailed for theft], BBC, 27 April 2012
In December 2012, Birmingham Crown Court ordered Greatrex to repay over £200,000.{{cite news|title=Miners' charity embezzler slapped with £200,000 reparation bill|url=http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/14048/miners_charity_embezzler_slapped_with_200000_reparation_bill|accessdate=18 December 2012|newspaper=Civil Society|date=18 December 2012|author=Jonathan Last}}
Personal life
He married Sheila Waterhouse in 1972 and had two daughters (born 1975 and 1982). He lived in Teversal.
Greatrex died on 9 July 2019 from complications of a brain haemorrhage.{{cite news|url = https://www.chad.co.uk/news/people/former-udm-leader-and-miners-strike-figure-neil-greatrex-has-died-1-9897566|title = Former UDM leader and miners strike figure Neil Greatrex has died|work = Mansfield and Ashfield Chad|date = 25 July 2019|accessdate = 26 July 2019|last = Topping|first = Andrew}}
References
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Category:Trade unionists from Nottinghamshire