In Memoriam

Eric Taplin, 1925 – 2012

Eric Taplin, 1925-2012

“My friend Eric Taplin, the foremost labour historian of Liverpool, has died of cancer aged 87. When, in 1960, he arrived in the city as a lecturer at the Liverpool College of Commerce, no serious research into the development of dockers’ trade unionism had been conducted. As an enthusiastic member of the Economic History Society, Eric set out to redress this situation, starting with research into the papers of the National Union of Dock Labourers.” – Professor Sam Davies.