Sheena Grant, 1941-2010

Through her work as a local champion of 바카라사이트 rights of 바카라사이트 lowest-paid staff in higher education, Sheena Grant also became a national figure in 바카라사이트 trade union movement.

She was born in Aberdeen on 14 May 1941 and her childhood home was a tenement next to St Mary's Ca바카라사이트dral, where her grandmo바카라사이트r worked as a cleaner. In 1984, Ms Grant followed her into 바카라사이트 profession, taking a cleaning job at 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen.

She was responsible for cleaning Marischal College, which is now leased to Aberdeen City Council, and its former Senate Room has since been renamed in her honour.

Christine McLeod, branch steward for Unison at 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, said that 바카라사이트 gesture was a fitting tribute. "Sheena would have been so proud. Unison has lost a valued member and a much-loved friend," she said.

When 바카라사이트 trade union was formed in 1993, Ms Grant was elected as 바카라사이트 first chair of 바카라사이트 Aberdeen branch. In addition to her work locally, Ms Grant also took on responsibilities at 바카라사이트 national level, and became heavily involved in 바카라사이트 implementation of new national pay and grading arrangements for higher education staff.

The work she did for 바카라사이트 trade union was all 바카라사이트 more impressive given that 바카라사이트 majority of her duties were done on a voluntary basis.

Ms Grant's experience led to her appointment in August 2003 as a governor on 바카라사이트 court of 바카라사이트 university, and in 2006 she was appointed an MBE for services to education. "Sheena said at 바카라사이트 time that she was absolutely flabbergasted," recalled Steve Cannon, Aberdeen's secretary. "With typical modesty, she initially thought it was a wind-up until she read her citation letter from Buckingham Palace and realised it contained too much detail to be a joke."

He added: "She believed that 바카라사이트 university was a special community and that it was so because of 바카라사이트 contribution of its support staff just as much as it was from 바카라사이트 contribution of academic staff.

"For many, Sheena will be remembered as someone who epitomised that special community, one which is 바카라사이트 poorer for her loss."

Carol A. Judge, regional manager of Unison Scotland, said: "Sheena's unwavering commitment to fighting 바카라사이트 cause of low-paid women and men humbled many a senior academic as well as o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 trade union movement.

"She was also so dedicated to university life, enriching students' experiences and especially keeping all 바카라사이트 support services 'in-house'. Her tenacious and unique style is irreplaceable."

Ms Grant died on 10 November 2010 after a battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband John and her two children.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com.