Bill Ure who died last week was a longstanding Peckham loyalist and Labour stalwart.  He had a sharp intellect and keen intelligence, which for many years he brought to bear for the benefit of young people through his time at Walworth School.

After his retirement Bill continued his commitment to education through his connections with Camelot Primary School.  He was passionate about education and believed every child should have the very best.

Bill was strongly committed to the Labour Party with a deep belief in social justice.  Though a longstanding Labour Party member he was always prepared to speak up when he disagreed on education policy and on the war in Iraq. 

Bill was ahead of his time for a man of his generation - for his strong commitment to the career of his wife Bonnie, and rightly so for she laid the foundation for the development of childcare and nursery provision in the London Borough of Southwark.  And he was immensely proud of his daughters and beloved grandchildren. 

I first met Bill over 30 years ago and over several decades we have had many laughs and many heated debates both in Labour Party meetings and in the beautiful surroundings of his house and garden in Friary Road.

We were last together on election day earlier this year in his front room chatting about the prospects for Labour and the local area.  He will be a great loss to his family, to the Labour Party and to the local community and I will miss him.  His lasting legacy will be the lives that will have been improved and opportunities gained for people in the local community who knew and worked with Bill Ure.