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Bob Heaton
• The name of Bob Heaton senior will go down in the annals of legal history as the first man to invoke the power of the National Industrial Relations Court on a trade union.
It is a distinction which Bob Heaton did not particularly desire and it has attracted publicity which he certainly did not require.
Long before the Industrial Relations Act was conceived Bob Heaton had achieved a great deal of success in transport. His success was won through hard work, determination and the ability to get on with people — all of the characteristics which are the hallmark of the Lancastrian.
Bob inherited the business, which his grandfather started, from his own father and at the age of 18 he and his brother were owner-drivers. Bob started his driving career with a Foden steamer and a drawbar trailer.
His first encounter with the trade union movement was during the General Strike in 1926 when the unions allowed him to carry on working because he was an ownerdriver engaged on moving essential foodstuffs.
From these early days he is now the joint managing director, with Bob junior, of a company operating 50 artic outfits throughout Great Britain. He takes some pleasure in the thought that a fifth generation of Bob Heatons, in the person of his grandson, may one day fill the md's chair.
Bob Heaton looks on life much as he looks on Rugby League football; "A tough business demanding skill and endurance". Life has its goals to be strived for and he recognizes that they can be achieved only at the expense of taking a few knocks on the way. He also recognizes that others have the right to score and he bears no malice when they do.
Occasionally, for a breather, Bob kicks for touch and takes himself off to the sun and regularly every October he enjoys a break at the R HA Conference Industrial troubles are not unknown to Bob but until now they have been those of other people. He serves on the RHA industrial relations committee and also on the Road Haulage Wages' Council. Occasionally he finds time to play at Ormskirk Golf Club where once he was captain. Although he is looking forward to a settlement of the present industrial troubles only one thing will be allowed to occupy his attention on May 13 when he will be at Wembley supporting St
Helens at the Rugby League cup final. G.C.