A true loss to the profession Mick Hearn 21 July 1947 – 29 September 2024
A tribute by Gordon Cresswell FCIPP Co-founder, CIPP
T he payroll and pensions movement lost one of its early pioneers with the passing of Mick Hearn in September 2024. In the early 1980s, when the Association of Payroll and Superannuation Administrators (APSA) was formed, which was the first ever representative body for payroll and pensions, Mick was a founder member and worked tirelessly to get things going. While we remember his hard work and precious input, it is his personality that he will be remembered for most. As ex-colleague, Susan Mann said, “Mick was friendly, approachable, loyal, straight talking, supportive and fair, and always encouraged staff to study for the APSA exams.” He brought these qualities to the early APSA development days, together with a way of getting people to do things for him because he was such a nice man.
We had no money at the time, so Mick used to persuade the man in charge of the Guildhall Committee Rooms to let us have a meeting room for free. Consequently, we met in the salubrious surroundings of the historic Committee Rooms. Ex-colleague, John Sibley remembers that Mick took an active part in the development of the Class Superannuation System, so important in its time. Before that he joined the London Borough of Newham in the pay and pensions department, then moved to the Corporation of London in 1971 as a pensions assistant and retired in 2007 as head of the department’s financial services group. John says, “In the early eighties, he became head of pay and pensions and saw the implementation of the new payroll system and later, the creditor system. It was
during this time he decided the best place for solving staff problems was a discussion in the staff bar.” In the late 1990s, Mick was active in the implementation of a new accounting system which included a new payroll and personnel system. Born in East Ham, he was an ardent West Ham supporter, and Mondays always saw an analysis of Saturday’s match. He married his lovely wife Jan in 1969 and in the 1970s they moved, together with Mick’s parents, to Margate, where his do-it-yourself skills were put to use renovating the family home. Above all, Mick was a people person and annually he hosted ex-colleagues on their visit to the seaside for a relaxing day involving a pint or two. John summarises, “There are so many tales involving Mick, but this isn’t the place to tell them. Goodbye Mick and take care.” These are thoughts echoed by all those surviving early pioneers. Susan Mann quotes one of the pensioners who, on hearing of Mick’s death said, “I had a lot of time for Mick.” There were a lot of people who had a lot of time for Mick. Well done Mick, and thanks.
“Mick was a founder member and worked tirelessly to get things going. While we remember his hard work and precious input, it is his personality that he will be remembered for most”
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | February 2025 | Issue 107 12
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