RE HONORARY LIFE MEMBER JOHN RENTON MBE FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY SPOA

It is with great sadness that I am writing to inform you of the passing of our Honorary Life Member and former SPOA General Secretary, John Renton on 24th February 2026 at the age of 92.

John was involved with the POA and the SPOA for many decades. John was part of the POA committee in Scotland in the 1960’s. A motion was taken to POA Annual Conference in 1971 to employ a full-time official in Scotland for the first time. The motion was debated and passed. This led the Scottish membership to support a motion calling for an independent POA in Scotland, which led to the creation of the SPOA.

John, who was the Scottish treasurer at the time leading up to the 1971 conference, was subsequently appointed the full-time official in Scotland following the post's advertisement and served with distinction as the SPOA General Secretary from 1971 until 1989. He was awarded the MBE in 1982 for his services to the union.

After his retirement, John was a regular guest at the Scottish Conferences and remained genuinely interested and engaged with all the business of the day. He enjoyed meeting with friends, old and new and it was always an immense pleasure to see him. John was an intelligent, charming, kind man; in fact, he was a complete gentleman. He will be greatly missed and mourned by many in the POA.

Our deepest condolences go to his son, Chris, and all of John’s family and loved ones for their loss.

 

Kind Regards

 

PHIL FAIRLIE
Assistant General Secretary