Brenda Hanks – 1933 – 2025 

With great sadness TSSA recently learned of the passing of Brenda Hanks, a major figure in our union’s history. 

Brenda served as TSSA’s first woman President, having been Acting President in 1993. She was then elected to the position later that year and served until 1997 – when TSSA celebrated its centenary.  

She was also National Treasurer between 1987 and 1993. Again, Brenda was the first TSSA woman to hold this position, having been on the union’s Executive Committee between 1982 and 1987. 

Brenda was President at the time of the 1996 Annual Conference in Plymouth where she was very critical of the Labour Party’s transport paper ‘Consensus for Change’, reflecting the deep disillusionment that many of the union’s members had with Labour’s policy.  

She was in post at a time of great upheaval across the railways when the Conservative Government had broken up and sold off separate sections of British Rail and when Railtrack was being floated on the stock market. 

Well known for her careful and thorough preparations for EC meetings and Conference, she was viewed by colleagues as someone who was not only professional in all she did, but willing to listen and work with other people. 

Having joined BR Engineering in 1948, she became a long-standing member of the Derby MS (Management Staff) Branch, a member of the Governing body and Executive Council of Ruskin College - and, like all our previous Treasurers, an auditor of the International Transport Federation. 

Today Brenda Hanks has a meeting room at TSSA Head Office named in her honour.  

Commenting, TSSA General Secretary, Maryam Eslamdoust said: “We are immensely sad at the passing of Brenda Hanks – a true TSSA trailblazer.  

“Those who knew her have made it clear Brenda was a formidable force in our union and its history. We give great thanks for her life and all she achieved.  

“Our thoughts are with her family and friends. We send them solidarity and strength. Brenda was a truly remarkable woman and trade unionist; her legacy will endure.”