Labour Party figures from across the country have paid tribute to a long-standing former Southwark councillor who passed away earlier this month.
Les Alden MBE, who sat on Southwark Council from 1971-1994, died on January 8.
Alden had later moved away from London to Sussex after retiring, where he stayed active in local politics and was elected to Adur and Worthing Council.
Alden had a distinguished career in the civil service and charities, and as a councillor helped arrange Christmas parties for thousands of OAPs over the years.
Life peer Lord Kennedy of Southwark said he was saddened by Alden’s passing.
“I first met him 36 years ago at a Southwark Labour Party meeting. A wonderful man with true Labour and community values,” he said.
Southwark councillor Charlie Smith described Alden as his “old friend” and sent condolences to his surviving wife, Pat, and their family.
Alden’s local branch, the Worthing West Constituency Labour Party, described him as “one of the leading lights of the party locally” and said “his knowledge, compassion and dedication to socialist principles will be missed.”
Adur District Council’s leader, Lee Cowen, said Alden was “my mentor and someone who believed in me”.
Tributes came in from across the political spectrum, with the Conservative East Worthing and Shoreham MP describing Alden’s “distinguished record of serving the community in London and more recently on Adur Council.
“Our condolences and prayers go out to Les’ family and the Adur Labour group.”