Memorial Service

The first tribute to Tam Dalyell, the trouble-making Labour MP for 43 years who became Father of the House, at his thanksgiving service at St Margaret’s, Westminster, came from a Tory colleague.

‘There cannot be anyone here today who does not have cherished memories of Tam,’ said Lord (Patrick) Cormack. ‘He was a thistle in the side of successive governments, a consummate burster of bubbles, a man who was prepared to bore for Britain, to champion a cause and, in doing so, leave no hiding place for those who would seek to justify by evasion.

‘No one, be he ever so high, could ever palm off Tam Dalyell. But the man who entitled his autobiography The Importance of Being Awkward was one of the most endearing of colleagues.

‘One of Tam’s defining characteristics was his scrupulous, indeed fastidious, if slightly intimidating, manner. He could be abrupt, brusque even, but never impolite. He summed himself up for me on his ansaphone. That wonderful voice invited you to leave a message, told you to speak slowly and clearly, and instructed “Don’t gabble.” ’

The BBC’S James Naughtie said of Dalyell ( The Oldie’s Politician of the Year in 2004, incidentally), ‘His obligations were his backbone. It wasn’t a question of whether in any of his campaigns he was right or not – every single one of his army of friends told him more than once that, on one question or another, he was hopelessly wrong or had been led astray – because everyone knew that the whole man, built on his independent spirit and the urge to be true to himself, made everything worthwhile.’

Tam’s son, Gordon Dalyell (who inherited the baronetcy his father never used), read from Matthew 5: ‘Blessed are the pure in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ JAMES HUGHES-ONSLOW

‘He entitled his autobiography The Importance of Being Awkward ’