GMB Union rep for Appledore Shipyard, Jake McLean, talks to Ray Goldsmith about job loss after working away from home and family for a year
GMB Union rep for Appledore Shipyard, Jake McLean, talks to Ray Goldsmith about job loss after working away from home and family for a year

GMB Union rep for Appledore Shipyard, Jake McLean, talks to Ray Goldsmith about job loss after working away from home and family for a year

In Bideford’s Victoria Park Jake McLean reflects on the past year as he relaxes with wife and family during a Sunday morning Easter egg hunt event. You may remember the GMB Union rep for Appledore Shipyard from recent local TV news reports covering the end of the yard’s Babcock era.

A hole in the community

“The closure of Appledore shipyard was not only a devastating blow to the workforce, but left a hole in the heart of those involved and the community,” he says.

Proud history

Jake McLean outside Appledor shipyard on closing day
Jake outside the shipyard on closing day. Courtesy of Ray Goldsmith.

“With the loss of a proud and historic shipbuilding industry and many jobs. It was jobs that the community of Torridge could ill afford to lose. I made the decision to take redundancy and take a job back home here so I can spend more time with my family.

“Working away for the past 12 months has really put a strain on things, as I didn’t get to spend quality time with my kids and wife. It’s the simple things that you miss working away, sitting down and having tea together as a family, being able to read a story to the kids at bed time.

Life changing

“In my time working in the yard I manged to secure myself a trade after going in there with no previous qualifications and make friends for life, in a place which really is a unique place to work. You could look all your life and I really don’t think you would find a better place to work.”

Passion for change

At the shipyard Jake represented the workforce as a workplace organiser for the GMB. Whilst campaigning to save the yard and representing the workforce on all matters involving work, he realised that he had a real passion for trying to change things for the better, and wondered how he could use this in the community as someone willing to listen and fight for all things on its behalf.

Fight for the community

“There are many issues that I would fight for the community, I would like to try and encourage more skilled industries to invest and set up in Bideford, create more jobs and apprenticeships, which in turn should also improve the local economy.

“We also need to preserve our green spaces and parks, like this one. It’s worth fighting to preserve them for our future generations and utilise them for the assets that they are.”

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