When my family moved from Scotland to Harlow in Essex, Ron Bill was among our first visitors and signed me up to the local Labour party and CND. Later he was a key supporter of mine when, in 1994, I became a Labour MEP based in Harlow, and remained a friend even when I was expelled by Labour for opposing Tony Blair’s policies. Ron was very much old Labour and one of the remarkable people who contributed to Harlow’s success as a Mark One New Town, and a great place to grow up. He supported the Gibberd Garden and its sculpture, and introduced many to world cinema as secretary of the film society. He was also a nice, gentle man with a rather wicked sense of humour.
