Jeremy Toner
With great sadness I’m writing to inform you of the awful news that Jeremy Toner has died of cancer after a short illness. Jeremy was our first openly-gay local president, then our treasurer; he was one of the activists who transformed Leeds AUT/UCU into a branch that actively fought back against managerialism, marketisation, casualisation and injustice. Above all, Jeremy was a truly kind and considerate person, loved and respected by many and he will be greatly missed.
In sadness,
Ben Plumpton
Branch President
UCU University of Leeds Branch
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Updates:
Donations in Lieu of flowers to St Gemma’s www.st-gemma.co.uk/in-memory-donation
Recording of Jeremy’s funeral service on 11th February (audio and photograph montage, approx 30 minutes) at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOHd6PIcQbtHBmIJZEw0Fw
This page was last updated on 12 February 2021
Rest in peace dear Jeremy, I am sorry to hear that you are gone
Jeremy was a great friend and political ally during my time at ITS Leeds. He was such a kind and gentle soul and full of wicked fun when you got to know him. He made a great contribution to the School and will be sorely missed. It is so sad that his time has come so soon, and before he had a proper chance to enjoy the company of his new dog Ciara or gain the benefits of his eagerly planned and waited. retirement.
Rest in peace Jeremy! And my best wishes to all his grieving friends, family colleagues. I hope there is a memorial ceremony planned!
Yes, dear Karen. Jeremy was kind, gentle and wicked fun. To add another dimension, Jeremy was also an incredibly caring caseworker for Leeds UCU, helping many UCU members in difficult situations. Rest in peace, Jeremy.
Jeremy was one of the first people I worked with when I joined the Leeds UCU Committee many years ago. For several years we worked closely together on casework, supporting members through restructuring and on job evaluation. (I was also his Vice-President – I think!) Jeremy was always hugely supportive to me and others on the committee and very willing to give whatever advice and help he could to anybody who asked. As well as a good heart he also had a sharply analytic head on his shoulders and could chew through the numbers like nobody’s business! He will be greatly missed, not just by his colleagues in UCU but by the university community in general.
I am deeply saddened to learn of this news. Jeremy’s achievements were extensive, and we feel the benefit to the welfare of our members – and to all staff – at our University to this day. He is, and will indeed be, greatly missed. May I express my sincere condolences to his loved ones and to his many friends.
I was so pleased to have known Jeremy as a friend, colleague and activist. A person who was very generous with his time and expertise. My one attendance at an AUT annual conference was enlivened by Jeremy. The lives of many people have been improved immeasurably by knowing him. I am numb at the knowledge of his passing, but may the Saints in Heaven rejoice at Jeremy’s presence with them.
We miss you Jeremy. Thank you for every trail you blazed, and every bit of support, advice and wisdom. I won’t ever forget your patience, even when explaining the accounts to me with my eleventy billion questions… And the jokes alongside all of this that kept us smiling. Rest in power xxx
Jeremy clearly touched the lives of many and his rest in peace has come too soon. Many condolences to family, friends.
I didn’t know Jeremy that well, but I knew him from my very first induction in 2002 when he did the UCU bit for new starters at the University.
I remember bumping into him quite often in the 3 Hulats in Chapel Allerton, most recently probably a year or so ago. We talked about the state of the world, Corbyn etc. A very nice person and very sad to at hear of his sudden death.
I am deeply saddened to hear of Jeremy’s passing. He was truly kind and considerate person. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
So sad to hear that Jeremy has gone. A very kind and friendly person who will be missed.
I’m so grateful for everything Jeremy did for Leeds UCU and our members. We will miss him. I’d like us to commemorate him by redoubling our efforts to support each other, in his spirit of kindness and solidarity.
Jeremy and I started our masters degrees at ITS on the same day in 1985. After finishing our PhDs in 1990 we both started working as fixed term staff in ITS. In the early 90s we attended a Leeds AUT AGM to propose a motion against dictatorial regimes. Since the committee was short of members volunteers were asked for, and we ended up agreeing to nominate each other, which is not what we had expected to come out of the meeting! Much followed for both of us from this, including a spell as national chairs of AUT fixed term committees (lecturers and researchers respectively), involving a number of memorable trips together to London and AUT conferences. His passing is truly shocking.
I will miss Jeremy. He was on one of the national fixed-term committees ahead of me, and a trailblazer, insightful and supportive. When he left the committee, one of the pieces of advice he gave to the annual meeting of fixed-term and hourly paid staff was ‘protect the weak’.
He was very humorous and never self-important. I met him also when visiting my brother in Leeds, at the Harehills Lane Baptist Church, and whenever I was there we would have a chat. What a lovely person.
Jeremy served as Treasurer during my time as President from 2000 to 2002; he may even have been treasurer when I became President but my memory fails me. However I do remember him not only for the effeciency with which he filled that role but for his unfailing energy and commitment. His long record speaks for itself and this is a very sad occasion.
I knew Jeremy through our roles as DSEs and also as someone who lived in my neighbourhood. I’ve seen him a few times since lockdown walking his dog in Potternewton Park and stopped for a chat. He was a friendly, funny person and I enjoyed bumping into him. He will be missed. Condolences to his family and friends.
Definitely one of the good guys. When ever I bumped into him around campus, I knew I would be guaranteed a witty and informed conversation. I shall remember him fondly.
A terribly sad loss of a committed and engaged activist who was always on top of his brief,
Always enjoyed working with Jeremy back in my ITS days. Lovely man and I’m sure he’ll be greatly missed by all.
So sad to see this news. I will remember Jeremy as very perceptive in our discussions, with a real sense of humour and a twinkle in his eye.
He was a true gentleman.
My condolences to his family and his many friends.
Jeremy had already made a mark in fixed term campaigning by the time I joined the committee, he was a great president and a committed case worker.
He had an irrepressible sense of humour and was the best person ever to travel by train with. The best routes, the cheapest tickets and an unbelievable grasp of where the current works on the line were.
He was unfailing kind at times of personal trouble.
He has been taken much to soon but will be long remembered by all those in UCU who have so much to thank him for.
Jeremy and I met when he was my caseworker, and suggested I might like to stand for committee, and thus started my involvement in AUT/UCU. Jeremy stepped up when he was suddenly thrust into becoming President when Caroline died, and he rose to the challenge, whilst clearly less than comfortable being thrust into the limelight. His commitment was always there, and through Jeremy I learnt more about train travel than I ever could have thought there was to know….those long trips to AUT and UCU annual conferences were certainly an education. It is so sad that he has been taken from us before he got to enjoy his retirement and a new phase in his life. I will never forget Jeremy.
Rest in eternal peace Jeremy. Forever in our hearts.
I have just heard this sad sad news. Oh but the world is a quieter place without you in it Jeremy . So very kind . So generous . Many many conversations, exchanges , debates and all ones where I came out the wiser and more thoughtful . You will be missed by many including me .
Hello Sally
Jez asked me to write his eulogy and I’d love to use some of your message above, as follows:
I shall leave the final word to one of Jez’s colleagues, Sally Hunt, who wrote:
Oh, but the world is a quieter place without you in it, Jeremy. So very kind. So generous. You will be missed.
Will that be OK? If easier you can reply by e-mail to philipaigoe@gmail.com
Many thanks
Philip
I enjoyed working with Jeremy for many years. I have fond memories of us injecting some fun and games into an otherwise dull Christmas party at ITS, and of him singing all of ‘Ilkley Moor’ to our bemused international students when we walked over it. He will be sadly missed.
Wise, compassionate and with a mischievous sense of humour. I had a lot of respect for Jeremy and he will be much missed.
To me Jeremy was an inspiring lecturer, PhD supervisor and colleague, and a wonderful person for all the reasons given above by others. He is missed very much in ITS, and by me, and indeed by many others. Many condolences to all his friends and family.
Simply a lovely human being. Caring, principled, intelligent and a Manchester United fan. I didn’t know Jeremy terribly well but we chatted animatedly whenever we bumped into each other around campus – and on picket lines – about politics and our football club. The world is a poorer place without the Jermey’s of this world. Rest in peace dear comrade and Red.
Update: Donations in Lieu of flowers to St Gemma’s https://www.st-gemma.co.uk/in-memory-donation
Jeremy, I cannot express how much you will be missed. A true inspiration.
I remember Jeremy firstly as a student, then later as a researcher like myself, giving me advice on aviation research we were undertaking. Aways cheer-full and helpful, a loss to future students.
Hi Geoff.
This is such sad news: I remember Jeremy from my time on the AUT committee and especially the Scarborough AUT Council in 2003, where he presented me with a bouquet to celebrate my forthcoming early retirement. He was a kind and supportive colleague and will be missed by many people.
Jeremy’s funeral took place yesterday. A photo montage and an audio recording of the service is available here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4VBkb9Q3dY. Further thoughts and recollections of Jeremy can be left here, along with donations to St Gemmas hospice, https://jeremytoner.muchloved.com/ Rest in peace Jeremy.