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Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell with Ed Fordham, Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn, at the funeral of Tim Garden at St John’s Church, Hampstead |
Lib Dem leader pays tribute to air marshal at funeral
MOURNERS packed Hampstead’s St John’s Church on Tuesday to pay their respects to Lord Tim Garden, the Liberal Democrat peer who passed away two weeks ago. Lord Garden, who lived in West Hampstead, had been suffering from cancer.
Among the congregation were Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell and members of his front-bench team in the House of Lords. They were joined by the highest-ranking officer of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glen Torpy, the chief of the air staff.
Sir Tim had spent 30 years in the RAF before embarking on a career in academia and politics, eventually rising to be the Lib Dem’s defence spokesman in the House of Lords.
Mr Campbell told the New Journal of how the former Air Marshal had been a trusted friend as well as a canny
political operator.
He said: “I have lost a close friend and an exceptional adviser. He was someone whose integrity and foresight were beyond compare. He was a superb addition to the House of Lords and an enormous influence within the party. But most of all, I shall miss a good companion with whom I have spent many happy hours.”
His two daughters Antonio and Alex spoke of his role as a father. In an emotional address to a congregation of more than 200, Antonio read the Rudyard Kipling poem If. She said of her father: “He was a man of enormous integrity, humour and love.”
Her sister Alex shared a fond memory that revealed her father’s intellect and how he passed his passions on to his children.
She said: “He used to read our bed-time stories, and even when was I six, it was not Milly, Molly, Mandy – he read us Lord of the Rings. We finished it when I was about 10.”
Alex also spoke of the strong relationship he had with her mother Sue.
She said: “He loved his friends, his family and his country – but above all, he loved my mum. They were together for 40 years and this was an inspiration to all who were lucky enough to know him.”
Sue described how her husband had defied RAF convention to marry her. The couple met at university and decided to marry when they graduated.
She revealed: “The RAF took a dim view of officers marrying under 25. ‘A wife will be a millstone around your neck’, said his commanding officer.”
Sir Tim ignored the advice. “The millstone stayed,” she joked.
Lady Garden then paraphrased the eulogy to the architect of St Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren. She said: “If you want his monument, look around you at all the people and organisations represented here today.” |
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