Tributes as campaigner for children dies aged 76

ATIRELESS Birmingham campaigner for children in care and former city councillor who “always put residents first” has died aged 76.

Reg Corns was raised in a Birmingham Middlemore Children’s Home himself and was a passionate advocate for vulnerable children throughout his political life.

He enjoyed two terms on Birmingham City Council, first as a Liberal member for Nechells from 1968-71 and later he returned for the Conservatives in Northfield in 2000 before retiring last year.

He campaigned tirelessly to reunite families divided by the forced resettlement of 5,000 Birmingham Middlemore children from Britain who were shipped to Canada in the 1930s and 1940s to work on farms.

In addition, he successfully battled for the families to gain access to official records and in 2010 they were given a formal apology by the British Government.

In 2013 he published a book, called The Famine and The Fear, a fictional story based on the true accounts of the Irish Home Children he came across during his campaigning.

He worked with the Middlemore Trust charity throughout his life and was continually frustrated by the problems which have blighted the child protection services over many years.

Conservative deputy leader and fellow Northfield councillor Randal Brew said: “He was what a councillor should be. His first loyalty was to the residents and ward and his second to his political beliefs.”

Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Jon Hunt, who served with Mr Corns on the children’s services committee, said: “Reg was utterly passionate about the welfare of the hardestserved children.”

Labour councillor Mike Leddy added: “Our children have lost a great advocate.”

Mr Corns leaves widow Pam and sons Antony and Richard and one grandchild.

His funeral will be on Monday, October 3, at 11am, at St Matthias and St George Church, Astwood Bank, near Redditch, in Worcestershire.