AROUND TOWN MEETS Conservatives.”
Her fight for workers’ rights started in her very first job on a broccoli farm in the school holidays where she launched a branch of Transport and General Workers Union, or T&G, which had over two million members in 1977. With dangerous machinery around the crops, Eve instigated a workplace crèche to help working parents. “I ended up getting the sack as they thought I was too active – I’ve never liked broccoli since.”
Although she failed her 11-plus exams, Eve’s time at Chapter Secondary School saw her propel through education to become the first student from her school – known locally as the Pram Pushers for its high teenage pregnancy rates – to go onto university.
Eve chose to move up north to Leeds University to study History and Theology. On her very first day, she stood for chair of the Labour students which she didn’t win but was consequently asked to be vice-chair.
While she fell in love with Yorkshire, Eve admits her devotion to trade union activism and long
Wedding
days spent on the Orgreave picket line in the midst of the Miners’ Strike or at Eddy Shah’s printworks in Warrington meant that her grades suffered slightly; she graduated with a third class degree by the skin of her teeth. However, the eye opening insight into ‘on the streets’ politics she gained was fundamental in paving the way to her eventually becoming Mayor of Rotherham. After university, while starting a young family, Eve worked at a homeless shelter in Leeds run by St Anne’s Community Services. She also worked for the Council among young women who had been forced into prostitution or sexual exploitation, Eve is also a
It’s perfect as I get to spend a lot of time with the man I love. Nobody understands me or this job role better than him
Judging
Armed Forces Day comp
survivor of child sexual exploitation. Working alongside other CSE survivors, she knew she wanted to become a minister to offer solace and refuge to the vulnerable in times of need. Starting as a curate on the Seacroft Estate in Leeds, Eve was officially ordained in 2001 and enjoyed three fantastic years on the large council estate. “It was one of the happiest times of my life and the perfect setting for me. I lived in a council house and was literally at the heart of the community – my door was always open. After a while, I knew being a parish priest wasn’t for me as I was never any good at the civic duties but I think God has had the last laugh now that I’m mayor.” After Seacroft, Eve moved to Hull in 2003 to join the mental health unit where her congregation changed dramatically. Unlike in the parish, the joyous times of reading the sermon to those celebrating christenings and marriages were swapped with offering spiritual relief to the most needy at the lowest points in their lives. Whilst practicing her faith, Eve was also a trade union representative and so needed the bishop’s permission to combine the two. Luckily for her, his wife was a UNISON member and it is from here that Eve became heavily involved with the champion for public services.
While at a meeting at Wortley Hall six years ago, dubbed the workers’ stately home for its ownership by the trade unions, Eve met her current husband Patrick Keenan. She was there with UNISON and Pat, a steelworker, was there with Community. Born and bred in Kimberworth Park, Rotherham, Pat started at Templeborough Rolling Mills at 16 under British Steel before it became Corus, working as a crane driver. It was love at first sight for him and Eve, with Pat offering to leave his hometown on the highway to Hull.
Parade
“I loved Rotherham just as much as he loved me so I decided to move here to be with him,” Eve says.
The pair married three years ago at their meeting place, with WortleyFerham Festival Hall becoming the Keenans’ second home along with their patterdale terrier, Rupert, who
loves to stay in the onsite cottages. At their home in Masborough, Eve decided to dedicate her little spare time travelling between Yorkshire and the Humber to running for councillor. While at a church committee meeting at St Paul’s in 2015, she heard about the Casey Report, uncovering the significant scale at which children in Rotherham had been victims of child sexual exploitation.
Understanding first hand what these young girls had inexplicably suffered, Eve wanted to also reconcile communities that had been shattered in the crossfire. Already an active member of the community thanks to her role within the church, Eve was spurred on to run for office by Wickersley councillor, Emma Hoddinott.
Elected in 2015, Eve became a Labour candidate for the Swinton ward, before replacing Kath Sims when she retired from Rotherham West which covers Eve’s
Masborough and Kimberworth stomping ground.
Eve has since helped her team make and scrutinise decisions while undertaking statutory duties. She holds surgeries at St John’s Green, Richmond Park and Masborough, as well as Bradgate Working Men’s Club where she loves to play a game of bingo or two.
Last year, Eve put herself forward for mayor after being encouraged by the positive change she’d started to see around the town and its communities. “I thought about it for a while. I never expected to be in Cabinet or anything like that but I thought my political and priest background would prepare me for the role. “People think you just rock up and be mayor. But the selection process is taken very seriously. I had to be interviewed by the Whips and give a presentation as to why I should be elected.”
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 5
Rotherham Show
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