John Murray - tributes paid to “massive community man”

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John Murray at the 'Save our services' public march - Saturday 26 March 2011

Tributes have been paid to John Murray, a man known for his tireless campaigning on ‘all things public transport.’

Mr Murray, 59, passed away on Wednesday (7 March) following a short illness.

He was a member of STORM (Support the Oldham, Rochdale and Manchester railway) and he was station adopter of Rochdale Train Station as part of Northern Rail’s station adoption scheme.

At Christmas time he often dressed as Santa for the Mince Pie Special train and he was a regular campaigner for better services.

He was also a director of Travel Watch North West, a popular cricket umpire and a strong member of the congregation at St John’s RC Church.

In STORM’s weekly newsletter Mr Murray was described as “a tireless campaigner for all things public transport” who “will be sadly missed by all who knew and respected him.”

Tony Young, Vice Chairman of Storm, said: “John was a very popular, lovely guy and would do anything for anybody. I have known him for about ten years, mainly through his transport interests. He was a long standing member of STORM.

“Before I knew him he played football and was a keen supporter of the Dale, he also played cricket and then turned to umpiring and he went all over the place umpiring cricket matches.”

Mr Young said that in his role as ‘station adopter’ Mr Murray would keep an eye on the station and spot if anything was wrong. He said: “He did it extremely well; he was very conscientious and spent a lot of time helping people and passengers.”

Mr Young added: “When there were replacement busses John was nearly always out there checking how the busses were running and helping passengers who didn’t realise there were replacement busses.

“On more than one occasion he would be showing the bus drivers where to go because they didn’t know the route.”

Asked if Mr Murray will be missed, Mr Young, said: “Very much so, he will be certainly missed in STORM, he was one of the most active members and I am sure he will be missed in many other places, certainly at church and obviously by his family.”

Mark Baker from Northern Rail, said: “I was saddened to learn of John’s passing. I had met John on numerous occasions at STORM meetings, Northern’s stakeholder events and transport or rail conferences across the North West. He was a gentleman, good company and a pleasure to work with.”

Aside from his interest in the railways Mr Murray also showed his support for the campaign to save the Rochdale Infirmary. In March last year he took part in the Friends of Our Hospital march armed with a banner which read ‘Hit at the top, not at the bottom.’

Billy Sheerin, a friend of Mr Murray’s, described him as a “massive community man.”

He said: “I met John 20 plus years ago, we played cricket together.

“My first encounter of him was in the Rochdale Catholic Club midweek league and we struck up a good friendship.

“He was a great character.”

Over the year’s Mr Murray was involved in Mr Sheerin’s amateur dramatic productions, he was someone, Mr Sheerin said, who would “always get involved.”

Mr Sheerin added: “He was a big lad, very jovial, he liked a good laugh but he could be very serious at times.

“I was very fond of him. It has been a massive blow, it was totally unexpected and we are all reeling from it.”

Friend Philip Wheatley said Mr Murray had been involved in the campaign against house building on the Turner Brother’s site; he described Mr Murray as a “very determined man” who liked to “serve the community.”

Mr Murray was also a member of the Rochdale Senior Citizens Forum. Chairwoman Barbara Bergin, said: “John was a very valued member and gave some great contributions. He was just a lovely man. He was friendly to everybody and he couldn’t be more helpful. He was so interested in what was going on in Rochdale.” 

Save Spodden Valley Campaigner, Jason Addy, said: "John will be greatly missed by many including all those involved with the Save Spodden Valley campaign. He was a true gentleman with a kind spirit and a keen commitment to community justice"

In his working life Mr Murray worked at the Tax Office, on the railways and as a porter at Birch Hill.

Mr Murray’s funeral is on Wednesday 14 March. A requiem mass will be held at 09.15 at St John's Church followed by burial at Rochdale Cemetery.

The Funeral Directors are Joseph Green Rochdale and Mr Murray’s family has requested family flowers only with donations, if desired, to Springhill Hospice.