Union people

Beth Hickling-Moore is joint NEU rep, lead practitioner and modern foreign languages teacher at Little Ilford School, Newham.

The power of cake when fostering unity

What do you love about your job?

The latest lockdown has reinforced how much I love working and interacting with people. It’s not the same teaching avatar students on Google Meets, especially when they are too shy to unmute.

What do you love about being in the union?

Can I say cake? I honestly have to say that our members make the best cakes.

During our eight days of industrial action against the forced expansion of our school (see page 17), we had such incredible homemade cakes and biscuits and were able to come together and enjoy them – at a social distance, of course.

Stopping for a cup of tea and a chat with fellow members is so important, and really fosters a sense of unity and mutual support.

What have you been up to lately?

Reading Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. It won the 2020 Booker prize and is a captivating story set in 1980s Glasgow. I’m almost finished and would 100 per cent recommend it. I’m absolutely gripped.

What’s important to you right now?

Taking time every day to be outside. A walk or run in the park is the perfect antidote to working from home. I’m also taking the time to have proper phone conversations with friends and family – touching base feels more important than ever right now.

Beth Hickling-Moore (right) on the picket line at Little Ilford School where staff have so far taken eight days of strike action against the forced expansion of their school (see page 17) PHOTO by Kois Miah

What do you do on your day off?

On weekends I go for long dog walks (Box Hill and Hampstead Heath are favourites when I’m allowed to leave my local area). I also have a few glasses of red wine and enjoy good food.

Spending more time at home has led to some serious bingeing of classic TV series. I’ve finished The Sopranos, The Wire and Mad Men already... should I admit that?

Tell us something that we don’t know.

I have a Romanian rescue dog called Pebbles. She looks a bit like a fruit bat and would do anything for a piece of cheese.

Teacher James ‘sweetest man in the world’

THE school where history teacher James Furlong worked until his death last summer is raising money to create a permanent memorial in his honour.

James and two friends were fatally stabbed in a park in Reading, Berkshire, on 20 June. Three other men were attacked and survived.

A 26-year-old man was given a whole-life prison sentence on 11 January after pleading guilty to the three murders and three attempted murders.

James was head of history, government and politics at The Holt School in Wokingham and was a member of the NEU’s Wokingham branch.

He was form tutor of artist Tiggy Chadwick, who painted James’ portrait (right) shortly after his death. In a tribute on Twitter she wrote: “He was the sweetest man in the world. He treated me like a person, despite a lot of issues I had. He helped to shape me into a gentler and kinder person, and for that I will always be grateful.” n More than £12,000 has been raised for a mosaic memorial in honour of James. To contribute, visit gofund.me/5004d4c9