I joined Jeremy, Diane and John McDonnell to pay tribute to the late Cllr Narendra Makanji.  He was a Haringey legend and passionate anti-racism, anti-apartheid and equalities campaigner who will be very much missed.

At the celebration of his life I spoke of how he was a great friend to all, coaching new black candidates coming through Labour, whether it was his three ward councillors (all BAME) or his pride in Haringey sending a black leader to London Councils or watching Cllr Jogee or Cllr Chandwani excel.  His pride knew no bounds.

He was a great campaigner, giving up his home for 24 hours to have hundreds of Labour candidates in and out of the house as our Committee Room.

He was a wonderful health advocate for the NHS, chairing the Whittington at a time of extensive Labour government investment with more doctors and nurses, new wards and clinics, more health promotion of preventing diabetes, lung disease and heart disease.

And of course he had an encyclopaedic knowledge of cricket, an immutable and lasting legacy of colonisation?

THERE’S a breathless hush in the Close to-night –

Ten to make and the match to win –

A bumping pitch and a blinding light,

An hour to play and the last man in.

To Narendra, son of Africa, son of Asia, Londoner. Our last man in.