Former EIS President & Former President of the GTCS

The SEJ was saddened to learn of the death of former prominent EIS activist Rose Galt, who passed away in Glasgow on the 12th of August.

Rose was a long-time Principal Teacher of English at Greenfaulds High School in Cumbernauld, and played an extremely active role in the EIS and the wider trade union movement throughout her career.

After many years of service to the EIS, Rose was elected as President of the Institute for the year 1979-1980, and was honoured with a Fellowship of the Institute in 1981. She was elected onto the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) in 1984, and would later go on to serve as GTCS President and Depute Registrar, becoming the first woman to Chair the GTCS in the process.

Active in the community in her home town of Cumbernauld and further afield, Rose was a founder of the Institute of Contemporary Scotland. She also spoke out passionately on the importance of the country welcoming refugees, referencing the experience of her own Grandparents who had fled to Scotland and set up a new life following religious persecution in their home country.

Amongst the tributes paid to Rose was one by former EIS Assistant Secretary Simon Macaulay, who said that Rose was, “An inspirational leader in education and in wider society throughout Scotland as a teacher, EIS activist and President, GTCS President and Depute Registrar, founder of the Institute of Contemporary Scotland and wonderful friend to many.”

Rose was married to the late Bill, and was beloved mother to Rosalind and sister to Alan and the late Sylvia. Rose’s funeral service was held at Falkirk Crematorium on the 29th of August.