Tributes have been pouring in for John Prescott, the deputy prime minister from 1997 to 2007, who has died aged 86.
The son of a railway signalman, Prescott was born in Prestatyn, Wales, in 1938 and left college at 15 to work as a trainee chef after which as a steward on the Cunard Line earlier than getting into politics.
Right here, six folks share their reflections, recollections and encounters with Prescott.
‘He connected with people’
I organised a photocall with him through the European parliament elections of 1994. It was at a coaching centre for caterers and brewers. Prescott was imagined to pour a pint and pose with the Labour MEP candidate Pauline Inexperienced.
To my utter astonishment, though in hindsight maybe I shouldn’t have been that shocked, John turns to the trainees and says one thing like: “You know, I used to work on ships as a steward, and one of the things I could do is down a pint in less than five seconds.” After which he says: “You lot, start counting.”
Afterwards, the movie crews virtually instantly packed up and thought: “Great, we’ve got our footage, we’re off.” However we obtained again to enterprise. John talked to the trainees. He was a really pure man – he linked with folks, had an excellent sense of humour.
You’ve obtained these youngsters in coaching from Tottenham, they’ve in all probability by no means met a politician of their life earlier than, and so they’ve met this man who’s truly an actual bloke. I believe he made fairly a big effect on them.
Neil Martinson, 70, London
‘I rapidly learned to have my facts together and arguments straight’
John Prescott mixed a deep private ardour for regeneration and housing – drawn from his personal private expertise and his deep northern roots – with a fierce analytical intelligence. Like a number of folks, I had been fooled by the media protection of him to suppose that his occasional failure to precise himself eloquently was symptomatic of muddled considering. Fairly the reverse was true.
Really, he was a really clever, analytical man. I quickly discovered that if I used to be going to persuade him of something, I needed to have my details collectively and my arguments straight. I bear in mind spending two days with him and civil servants, reviewing progress on regeneration initiatives within the Midlands and the north. After every session, it was John’s evaluation that was essentially the most spectacular within the room.
It was his means to chop by the flannel and ask the sharp, pertinent query which I deeply admired.
Adam Sampson, 64, chief govt of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter, 2002-09, London
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‘We could do with more politicians like him’
I knew John from my Labour social gathering Younger Socialists days, first assembly him at a convention in Bridlington within the Eighties. John was an actual character who rose up from powerful occasions within the “real world” and we might do with extra politicians like that as of late.
One time I ran into him queueing to look at the movie The Crying Recreation in Leicester Sq.. I advised we go in collectively. As quickly because the movie began, he fell right into a deep sleep and snored loudly all through. On the finish, because the credit rolled, I requested him what he considered the movie. “Bloody rubbish,” he stated. “I prefer films that make you think!”
Julian Dismore, 59, TV producer and media expertise coach, Norwich
‘He was refreshingly normal’
Some years in the past, I used to be on a practice to Hull in normal class, and after I stood as much as get off, I noticed John Prescott. He waited till I obtained within the queue to go away the practice. Everybody was smiling and so happy to see him. He was very regular with no airs about him. It was very refreshing and I’ve by no means forgotten it. I preferred him as a politician and he appeared to say what he thought and didn’t appear to have that sense of significance that many do. It’s so unhappy to listen to of his dying.
Wendy, 80, retired NHS employee, north-east England
‘His robustness had a working-class pride to it’
I’m an old-style socialist, usually known as “out of date”, who believes in a extra equal society with extra houses, good training and free healthcare for all. I related very strongly with John Prescott’s views. I felt Tony Blair went too conservative, however Prescott tried to maintain New Labour positioned in the direction of the left to a sure extent. These types of politicians – like [Clement] Attlee’s 1945 authorities that created the Nationwide Well being Service, the welfare state, higher training and every part else – have all gone now.
I noticed Prescott communicate in 1984 through the miners’ strike. His political model was fairly gruff; he would thump his fist on the desk for emphasis, or deploy his mood to make some extent. However I preferred that perspective. His robustness had a working-class pleasure and dignity to it. I bear in mind him saying that the working class want to stay collectively, not be break up by the rightwing media.
Colin Springett, 66, Ipswich
‘If we had more people like him in politics, what a better place this would be’
I by no means met John, and am too younger to have voted when he was round, however I’ve all the time had a lot respect for him. He represented an honesty and fervour for those who represents what politics needs to be about. He labored with individuals who don’t share the identical views. He labored his complete life to make our nation a greater place for everybody and he did it actually. Even his punches have been sincere. Think about our politics if our Homes of Parliament have been full of individuals like John Prescott. What a greater place this is able to be.
Sam, 29, lawyer, Bristol
