David Williams obituary

My father, David Williams, who has died aged 98, served as general secretary of the Confederation of Health Service Employees (Cohse, now part of Unison) trade union from 1983 until 1987.

He was a staunch defender of the NHS and a passionate member of the Labour party, and was honoured to serve on the party’s national executive committee from 1981 to 1983; he had many roles during his career, including being a special adviser for the World Health Organization. His tenure in the top post of Cohse was during the turbulent years of the Thatcher government, and he never avoided crossing swords with people when it was crucial to do so.