Sir Patrick Duffy, the former Labour MP and defence minister believed to be the UK's longest-living former MP, has died at the age of 105 after a short illness, a family friend has said.
Duffy, who died on 2 January, served in the second world war with the Fleet Air Arm and survived a plane crash in the Orkney Islands.
He first entered Parliament in 1963 after winning the Colne Valley byelection, and later represented Sheffield Attercliffe from 1970 until his retirement in 1992. Under James Callaghan's Labour government, he served as parliamentary under secretary for the Royal Navy.
Described as a "living historical jukebox" by Kevin Meagher, who helped him publish his memoirs, Duffy met figures including Clement Attlee. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and received a papal knighthood from Pope John Paul II.
Duffy gained attention in 1981 for being the only MP to criticise Margaret Thatcher over the death of hunger striker Bobby Sands. The pair later had tea together when he was president of the Nato Assembly in the 1980s.
A statement from his family said: "An extraordinary man with a lifetime of accomplishments, Patrick leaves behind him family and friends – across all age groups – who will miss his kindness, humour and incredible acuity in recalling personalities and events from a century ago."
