Any one who has met me will have realized that I am originally a ‘Suvvern git’. I was born and brought up in West London, but not the posh bit. I lived in a place called Hanwell in the Labour constituency of Ealing Southall. I passed my 11+ and went to Ealing Grammar School for Boys. Worst education I could have had other than Public School. Taught me how to pass GCEs as they were then but nothing about life. Took me a long time before I could really get on with girls/women.

I got married in 1972 at University and then went into social work. I did child care, which I hated, then hospital social work which I loved. I finished off as a care manager reviewing placements for older people who couldn’t manage at home any more.

I lived in Rochdale and have two children, Tim and Eleanor from my first marriage. When I divorced in 1989 I moved into the Seven Sisters and have been there ever since, finally caring for my second wife who died of a neurological disease. My new partner has a house on Windermere Road and we use both addresses as my daughter, who has learning disabilities, needs the routine of coming to the flat she is used to.

As for hobbies I enjoy a social pint, and I go bird watching, which is a complete escape from politics. I suppose my passion at the moment is the one shared by many, flying the red and white George Cross for England in the hope that they’ll bring something back from Germany. I was going to go to the world cup with my son, but he fell in love and I got re-elected to the Council, so that’s been kicked into touch!

When I joined social services in 1974 there were a lot of people living in bad housing. A few of us formed a Housing Action Group to try to do something about it and that brought me into contact with politicians. I joined the Labour Party in 1975 and have been active ever since.

My driving force has been what it is now, trying to improve quality of life for people. I have long learned that few people are seriously into politics and most are just looking for a quiet life. I see the job of politicians as to try and enable them to do just that and if we work hard enough to deserve their vote, then so much the better.

he highlights of my political life were being first elected to Council in 1987 and then being elected for Langley in 1996.

From 1996 to 2004 and 2006 for at least four more years