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Camden New Journal - By DAN CARRIER
Published: 10 January 2008

Tessa Jowell

‘Camden was a part of Roy’s DNA’ – Mayor Ken

TESSA Jowell served with Roy Shaw on Camden Council during the 1970s. She is now the government’s minister in charge of the 2012 Olympics.
“This is such sad news, but Roy’s memory will remain. He was a giant in local government and public service, with almost unparalleled experience and accumulated wisdom. He was also an extraordinarily brave politician – sometimes he could be completely uncompromising over what he believed was right. His toughness was backed by a wonderful, affectionate and humorous personality. I feel very lucky to have been able to count him as a friend for most of my life.”

Dame Jane Roberts, former leader of the Labour group in Camden and leader of the council, served with Roy on the Labour benches from the late 1980s through to her resignation from the Town Hall in 2004.
“When I was first standing for the council and expecting my son I was worried how I would cope. I spoke to Roy and he was marvellous. He always took great care of the younger councillors – he had a large club of people he looked after.
What I had not fully appreciated until recently was his record as leader of the council for seven years, between 1975 and 1982. He helped Camden earn a reputation as a progressive, flagship authority.”

Holborn and St Pancras MP Frank Dobson served with Roy on Camden Council in the 1970s.
“Roy must be one of the last people active in day-to-day politics who saw service during the conflict. He was involved in Camden for so long that when I first got involved he was an old timer, and he always put his vast experience and memory at the disposal of every one. He was always forthcoming. He was dedicated: Roy gave up a well-paid job in marketing and public representation for the London Press Exchange when he became leader of the council. But his influence spread far beyond the borough. He worked for the Audit Commission and the London Fire Service. He was really an unsung hero. There will never be colour supplements about the Roy Shaws of this world but it is people like him who make society a decent place, in Camden, in London, and in Britain.”

Lord Roy Hattersley was Labour’s deputy leader between 1983 and 1992. He first met Roy in the late 1970s when the party was racked by in-fighting. When Lord Hattersley stood against Neil Kinnock as Labour leader, Roy worked on his campaign team and the pair remained friends ever since.
“He was very quiet, very strong and very determined. He was a highly principled man – it was easy to underestimate him because he was modest, but he had great principles and courage to see them through.”

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone served with Roy on Camden Council in the late 1970s.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of Roy Shaw. I knew Roy for over 25 years. I first met him early in my political career when I was a new councillor in Camden in 1978. It was clear then that Camden was an essential part of Roy’s DNA. Roy’s mischievous humour was a great asset as was his wise and formidable political brain. I remember he was able to defuse the most volatile meeting with a quick quip that would disarm even the most strident political opponent.The people of Camden have lost a passionate
advocate – the people of London have lost a dear friend.”

Camden’s Conservative Party leader Andrew Marshall first sat opposite Roy in 1990 in the Council Chamber.
“He contributed more than anybody else over the last 40 years. He was a good friend and mentor to a number of generations of councillors in Camden. He served his borough and his party well.”

Former Labour leader Michael Foot met Roy through the magazine Tribune, which they both worked on.
“He was a business manager on Tribune a very long time ago. Not many people recover from that, but he went on to great things. His was a wonderful service to the local authority and kept us on the right lines in local matters here in Camden.”

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