Sir Patrick Duffy, widely believed to have been the longest-living former Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, has died at the age of 105. The Labour veteran passed away on January 2 following a short illness, as confirmed by family friend and author Kevin Meagher.
A Political Life: From Colne Valley to Sheffield
Sir Patrick's political career was one of remarkable longevity and dedication. He first stood for Parliament in 1950 and secured his first electoral victory in 1963, winning the Colne Valley by-election. He later represented the constituency of Sheffield Attercliffe from 1970 until his retirement in 1992.
During his time in Westminster, he held significant roles, including serving as parliamentary under-secretary for the State for Defence under Prime Minister James Callaghan in the late 1970s. He also acted as the opposition spokesman on defence in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Wartime Stoicism and Historic Confrontations
Born in Wigan in 1920, Sir Patrick's life was shaped by extraordinary events long before he entered politics. A war veteran, he served in the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War and survived a harrowing plane crash in the Orkney Islands. He lay for 24 hours in the fuselage on a Scottish mountainside, with medics having to stab a morphine needle into his frozen arm. Despite severe injuries requiring plastic surgery, his determination saw him return to flying duties.
In the political arena, he was known for his conviction. Kevin Meagher noted that Sir Patrick "took a lot of flack" as the only MP who 'berated' former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1981 over the death of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. Despite this confrontation, the two would later share tea together, particularly during his tenure as president of the NATO Assembly in the 1980s.
A Legacy of Achievement and Incredible Recall
Sir Patrick was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and received a papal knighthood from Pope John Paul II in 2017. Described by Meagher as a "living historical jukebox," he possessed an encyclopaedic memory, recalling events from Oswald Mosley speaking in Wigan in the 1930s to the 1926 General Strike, his earliest memory.
A statement approved by his family paid tribute to "an extraordinary man with a lifetime of accomplishments," highlighting his kindness, humour, and sharp intellect. He authored books using a typewriter or pen, eschewing modern computers, with his work "From Wigan To Westminster" reflecting on his career and contemporary issues.
Sir Patrick Duffy's life, spanning over a century of British history, leaves behind a legacy of public service, resilience, and an indelible mark on the nation's political landscape.
