I was deeply saddened to hear if the death of Ken Purchase. My condolences go to Brenda, his wife and his family.

I first met Ken as a fledgling Co-operative Party National Organiser when he and his great friend and political colleague, Dennis Turner were setting up the Spring Vale Sports and Social Co-operative in Bilston following the demise of the Bilston Steelworks in the early eighties. At that time both were senior Wolverhampton Councillors and active in the Co-operative Movement.

Ken joined Dennis in the Commons after the 1992 General Election when he won back the Wolverhampton North East constituency from the Tories. I was deputed to work in that campaign and have many fond memories of the passionate loyalty and commitment he had earned from his fellow Party campaigners.

Ken was one of a breed of MPs sadly disappearing from the Commons. He was working class, a toolmaker by profession, subsequently educating himself at Wolverhampton Polytechnic and then becoming a leading member of Wolverhampton Council and a co-operative activist. His intellect coupled with a substantial physical presence and booming voice made him an effective and authoritative speaker in the Commons.

He was a visionary but was also practical and pragmatic. As such he was respected by all wings of the Labour Party.

In the Commons he was PPS to Robin Cook for many years. He was a valuable part of Robin’s distinguished Ministerial career.

He was an active member of the Co-op Group in Parliament and a popular speaker at my Weekend schools and Regional Conferences.

I well remember his voice booming his support for me over the loudspeaker on a dark November afternoon in 2000 during my own by-election. When I was subsequently elected he took me under his wing to escort me round the labyrinthine corridors of Westminster and explain the various arcane rituals of the institution which every newly elected MP needs to know.

Following his retirement in 2010 he continued to play an active part in the Socialist Education Association no doubt a reflection of the role education played in his career. I last saw him at an event organised by the Wolverhampton Labour Party just 6 weeks before his death. As ever he was accompanied by Brenda his loyal and supportive wife.

He was a devoted family man, a superb champion of Wolverhampton, a great co-operator but above all, a kindly and avuncular character who has left an indelible mark on Wolverhampton politics. I was privileged to have had the opportunity of working with him.