Andrew Dismore

I was sorry to hear that Stan Davison passed away on Saturday. Stan was a remarkable man of principle, a local figure who commanded respect across the political spectrum. I was proud to call Stan a good friend and comrade.

I first met Stan in 1996, when I had been selected as Labour’s candidate for Hendon to fight the General Election in 1997 and when Stan was in the forefront of the Edgware Hospital campaign. After it was closed by the outgoing Conservative government a month before the election, Stan worked tirelessly in supporting the local efforts to retain services and to build the new hospital, which stands as just one part of his rich local legacy.

Stan was a key local NHS campaigner, but that was not the only line he used to beat up on us local politicians!  A retired trades unionist, he was a doughty and effective advocate of the interests of pensioners. And many times I sat with him debating the rights and wrongs of what was happening in left politics more generally, defending and explaining Labour positions against his searching and principled critiques.

He will be missed by all.