Old comrade

I was saddened to hear of the death of Sir Richard Knowles. For years in the 70s and early 80s I was the Post Municipal man dealing with him on an almost daily basis. He was gruff, outspoken, fun, honest and above all, he was a gentleman.

His description of the new wave of Labour activist coming through among university lecturers and professionals rather than the traditional routes of party worker, shop floor or unions has stuck with me for more than 30 years. He dismissed them as "parlour Bolsheviks".

May you rest in peace, comrade, you deserve it.