David Lambert (1922 – 27 July 1967) was a Scottish

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while othe ...

and

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits (s ...

leader. Lambert worked in

Clydebank Clydebank ( gd, Bruach Chluaidh) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, it borders the village of Old Kilpatrick (with Bowling and Milton beyond) to the west, and the Yoker and Drumchapel areas ...

, completing an apprenticeship, and joining the

National Union of Foundry Workers The National Union of Foundry Workers (NUFW) was a trade union representing workers in foundries in the United Kingdom. History The union was founded in 1920 with the merger of the Associated Iron Moulders of Scotland, the Amalgamated Society ...

(NUFW). He rapidly became a

shop steward A union representative, union steward, or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company who represents and defends the interests of their fellow employees as a labor union member and official. Rank-and-file members of the union hold ...

then, when only 23, secretary of the union branch."Novelist is union secretary", ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' ...

'', 29 March 1961 The NUFW became part of the

Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers __NOTOC__ The Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers (AUFW) was a trade union representing workers in foundries in the United Kingdom. The union was founded in 1946 with the merger of the National Union of Foundry Workers, the Ironfounding Worke ...

(AUFW) and in 1951, he went to work in the union's head office as an assistant secretary.

Trades Union Congress The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in England and Wales, representing the majority of trade unions. There are 48 affiliated unions, with a total of about 5.5 million members. Frances O ...

, "Obituary: David Lambert", ''Annual Report of the 1967 Trades Union Congress'', p.436 While in post, he found time to write two novels based in the area in the 1950s: ''He Must So Sleep'' and ''No Time For Sleeping''. In 1958, Lambert was elected as assistant general secretary of the union. General secretary Tommy Graham died suddenly in 1960, and Lambert became acting general secretary. In March 1961, he beat Bob Garland in an election to retain the post on a permanent basis. By 1967, Lambert was suffering from long-term illness and announced his resignation as general secretary. However, he died before it could be effected.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lambert, David 1922 births 1967 deaths British trade union leaders Scottish novelists Scottish trade unionists