Shippo is on the case

MARTIN SHIPTON relishes a challenge — how else could this union stalwart have ended up with so many jobs?

Professionally, he is chief reporter for the Western Mail, the Cardiff-based national newspaper of Wales, having previously held the same position at sister paper Wales on Sunday since 1995.

But when it comes to the NUJ, this larger-than-life character has numerous roles. He is Father of the Chapel at Media Wales, heading a five-strong team of chapel officers representing more than 120 members.

The charismatic “Shippo” is also chair of the Trinity Mirror Group Chapel, holds the same post with the Cardiff & South East Wales Branch and, for good measure, is a vice-chair of the Wales Executive Council, the union’s governing body in the principality.

He was one of the driving forces behind the chapel’s long-running and successful fight for union recognition in the 1990s. Sports sub Steve Jones, who was FoC then, says: “Shippo brings a telling blend of enthusiasm, conviction and pragmatism to his role. He is a blunt speaker when he needs to be — something Trinity Mirror’s chief executive Sly Bailey discovered at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in May.

“Known as a thorn in the side of politicians and management alike, journalists in Wales and beyond have benefited hugely from his support and commonsense approach.”

The Journalist is published by the National Union of Journalists