Working class fighter - tributes are paid to Lord Bilston
If there was one thing that everyone could agree on about Lord Bilston, it was that he loved his fellow human beings.
Flags were flying at half mast today and tributes were pouring in from all over the country, including from the top of the Labour party, for the former Wolverhampton South East MP Dennis Turner.
The 71-year-old, who represented the constituency from 1987 to 2005, died last night.
For his colleagues and friends, it was his belief in the Black Country, his sense of social justice and above all else his kindness that they will remember most fondly.
Father of two Lord Bilston had been ill for some months.
Former Labour Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott called Lord Bilston 'a true working class fighter for social justice and a passionate Black Country advocate'.
The party's deputy leader Harriet Harman said on Twitter: "So sad to hear of the death of Dennis Turner. My thoughts are with the family of this kind, sharp-witted, decent Labour man."
Lord Bilston's former neighbour, Ken Purchase, who represented the Wolverhampton North East constituency, described him as his for decades.
The two had also served together on Wolverhampton City Council in the 1970s and 1980s.
Mr Purchase, aged 75, retired as an MP in 2010.
He said: "His service to the community started when as a young teenager he was made the junior mayor of Bilston and continued as a councillor, MP and a peer.
"He was always available to those who needed him.
"Education was his great passion, believing it is never too late to learn. Much will be spoken and written about Dennis but nothing better reflects his life than his deep love for all his fellow human beings.
"The thoughts of my wife Brenda and myself are with his family at this very sad time."
Wolverhampton City Council leader Councillor Roger Lawrence called Lord Bilston an 'enormous individual'.
"It's a very sad loss," he said.
"You can't just sum him up in a few words.
"He was rooted in his community and got stuck into things in Westminster.
"And he got Banks's Bitter into the Member's Bar in Parliament – that's quite a legacy in itself.
"He was a great character.
"My feelings are with his family."
Pat McFadden, who succeeded Lord Bilston as MP for Wolverhampton South East, called him a true 'Bilston patriot'.
"Our city has lost a great son," he said.
Emma Reynolds, a shadow housing minister and MP for Wolverhampton North East, was elected in 2010 to succeed Mr Purchase.
She said: "Dennis Turner gave a life time of public service as a Wolverhampton councillor and MP. He was a passionate advocate for Bilston and Wolverhampton. He will be sorely missed.
"Dennis was tremendously kind and generous to me as a new MP. He went out of his way to welcome and help me. I will miss him greatly. I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to his wife, Pat, and his family."
Tributes poured in on Twitter with words such as 'gentleman' and 'humble' cropping up regularly.
Labour MP for Dudley North Ian Austin said: "Really shocked to hear Dennis Turner has died. Such a nice man. A great MP and servant of the Black Country. A life spent serving local people.
"News like that really puts things in perspective. Imagine how his family must be feeling. Such a short retirement."
Close friend David Clelland, a former MP for Tyne Bridge, said: "Dennis Turner was a remarkable and lovely man I am proud to have called him my friend for 27 years."
Labour's Leader in the House of Lords, Janet Royall, said knowing him had been a privilege.
She said: "Very sad to learn of Dennis Turner's death – a great Labour man, a fine MP and public servant.
"A privilege to share the red benches with him."
Wolverhampton City Council 's official Twitter page said: "Very sad to hear that Lord Dennis Turner has passed away. A gentleman who never forgot his roots.
"Will be missed by many in Wolverhampton."
And Labour councillor Julie Hodgkiss added: "Politicians from different parties across Wolverhampton expressing their respect for Dennis Turner.
"A mark of a wonderful man."
Wednesfield North councillor and former Wolverhampton mayor Phil Bateman called Lord Bilson 'a very dear friend who will be sadly missed'.
His brother Bert, a councillor in Bilston, said that people had been asking after him ever since he became unwell last November. "You couldn't go 10 yards without someone asking 'how's Dennis'.
"It showed he had never lost touch with people around here." Lord Bilston had been suffering from tumours on his spine which had given him back pain and had spent time in hospital in Oswestry and Wolverhampton before being cared for at home by his family.
