Salute to a man of the people

A FORMER MP and Oldham Groundwork stalwart has died after a short battle with cancer.

Charles Morris, Labour’s parliamentary representative for Failsworth for 20 years from 1963-83, died at his home in Derbyshire only four weeks after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. He was 85.

Mr Morris — who was the founder chairman of Oldham and Rochdale Groundwork for 17 years — died surrounded by his family, including his daughter, former education secretary Estelle Morris.

His wife Pauline told the Chronicle: “He was a fit man all his life, but he never left the house after coming home from hospital.

“It was bad it was over Christmas but good in another way because all the family were home, including Estelle.”

The Manchester Openshaw MP lost his constituency under sweeping parliamentary boundary changes and failed to find a new seat after missing out on West Oldham to fellow MP Michael Meacher.

Pauline says her husband was much more than an MP and got involved in “everything which was going on in Failsworth”.

In fact despite moving to live near Matlock he still retained strong links with the area and always attended Failsworth Pensioners’ Christmas party.

And such was Failsworth’s affection for the politician and the man, a sheltered housing scheme was named in his honour — Charles Morris House, in Ashton Road East.

“Although Charles was an MP he was very much a ‘local man’,” said Pauline.

“He always remembered the local issues and literally everything that happened in Failsworth he would go to.”

His high-profile political career saw Mr Morris serve as Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s parliamentary private secretary from 1970-74, the Labour Government’s deputy chief whip, civil service minister and deputy speaker of the House of Commons.

He was made a Privy Counsellor and deputy Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester in 1985.

As chairman of Oldham and Rochdale Groundwork for 17 years he was seen as the linchpin of its success.

The trust’s first executive director, Robin Henshaw, remembers him fondly.

“He was such an inspiration to us and gave us marvellous support and encouragement,” Mr Henshaw said.

“In particular he encouraged us to think ambitiously and to go for what we felt would make a real difference — and the result was that not only did Groundwork make an impact locally but its influence was such that through the 1990s it became instrumental in creating a Groundwork movement in Japan and the United States as well assisting greatly in the development of Groundwork throughout the UK.

“Charles Morris was an exceptional man — a great humanitarian and a kind, effective and generous mentor. I feel very privileged to have known him and to have worked with him in Oldham.”

He became a friend of the late Princess Diana after she agreed to perform an opening ceremony for the environmental charity.

Pauline told us: “It was an hilarious scene.”

“Princess Diana was opening a nature trail in Princess Park and it was very muddy. When Charles asked Diana what she wanted to do she just said: “Get me a pair of wellies and let’s get on with it, There’s a great picture of the pair of them struggling to push a child in a wheelchair through this mud and they’re just bent double with laughter.”

Mr Morris also leaves daughter Heather, son-in-law Jeremy Baker and granddaughters Jessica and Clementine.

A funeral service will be held at St Ann’s Church, Manchester city centre, on Friday.