Stan was always very kind to me. I arrived in London from my native Durham City in 2002. Shortly after that I joined the Labour Heritage committee of which Stan was the chairman. For many years I struggled to find stable work, going from one temporary agency post to another with periods of unemployment. Stan always expressed his concern and this schoolmasterly attention could be a little bit embarrassing but was always touching: “are you working young man”? Stan was very pleased when I finally found secure employment.