Unsurprisingly, I greatly admired the oratory and negotiating abilities of leaders like the late Paddy O’Hanlon, Seamus Mallon and John Hume.
They gave masterclasses in the art of politics and were wizards of word craft.
Like many of that era they were known as big political beasts.
All three were instantly recognised by their sense of presence and even by their voices. Politicians shaped by life experiences, their environment and by their adversaries. They were fired in the furnace of resilience.
Above all else they were peacemakers who displayed courage both moral and physical.
“Peacemakers”, in the words of Nelson Mandela, “are people of integrity and honesty”.
But Mandela added a third virtue for “great peacemakers”. He said they were people of “humility”.
And it is the virtue of humility which has captured the mind of this writer over this sad weekend.
The news that Pat Hume died after a short illness came as a shock. Pat was never just the wife of a great statesman - she was his partner, confidant and co-worker. Without Pat Hume, it’s doubtful John would have achieved as much as he did. They were a package.
Despite all her amazing talents of intelligence, warmth, beauty, compassion and resolve, Pat Hume simply radiated humility.
As I reflected, I pondered on those in politics who had an impact on my own approach to life, professionally and personally.
Perhaps surprisingly, they were not the aforementioned great political icons but others who laboured mostly unseen and rarely recognised.
They were in fact three women - Gerry Cosgrove, Geraldine Donnelly and Pat Hume - whose contribution, dedication and service to their families, their politics and their community were all hallmarked by a steadfast commitment to peace building. All three displayed great integrity, honesty and, of course, humility.
Leadership gurus tell us that “humility breathes oxygen into a space” to allow others to flourish. These women did just that by putting themselves at the service of others. Often standing back to allow others to take the applause.
Gerry Cosgrove is probably not known to many outside the SDLP. She was the party’s second female general secretary after Brid Rodgers.
Gerry is a pocket rocket. Small in stature but a giant in courage. Like many women members of a political party she has been the backbone of the organisation. No task was ever too menial for Gerry and nor was she ever overwhelmed by the scale of some impossible asks. At one stage she and her family nearly constituted the entire SDLP organisation in Lower Falls. Even in retirement Gerry still lends a hand and also serves on the John and Pat Hume Foundation.
The late Geraldine Donnelly was also an incredible woman. She was unassuming but had an infectious personality. She was in every sense a lady who reluctantly became a politician in south Armagh. Despite her reticence to enter the political world, Geraldine was the epitome of what a public representative is all about - service. A poll topper, she had grace and charm in abundance. But more than that Geraldine had grit. She proved her grit when following the brutal murder of Paul Quinn she stood shoulder to shoulder with the Quinn family in searching for justice. Geraldine, although at times alone and isolated, never flinched when tested. Her sudden death in 2019 robbed her family and community of an outstanding public figure.
Mother Teresa once wrote: “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless”.
If anyone knew how to express a kind or supportive word it was Pat Hume and her echoes can still be heard in every part of Irish society, in Derry, within the SDLP and beyond. Pat possessed a great generosity of soul - she was one of life’s givers. A mother, teacher and peacemaker, she was a woman of substance.
Her absence leaves the world a little dimmer but also enriched for her presence.
