During an interview with Patricia Hollis, Lady Hollis of Heigham, in 2013 she told me she had been “politicised quite young”. Her father, a farm labourer, was an active trade unionist who was sacked after mobilising local agricultural workers to rebel against their poor working conditions. She said he had little schooling and found writing difficult so, from the time she was nine years old, Patricia would accompany her father to union meetings to take the minutes.
Eva Tutchell
Patricia Hollis was one of the greats in Labour politics. A brilliant intellect combined with charm and a keen political mind meant she was a wonderful local council leader, a fine minister and an outstanding member of the House of Lords. I first met her in the 80s and she showed me the market square in Norwich, outside the town hall, and in five minutes gave me a distilled history of the city, bringing it all to life. Her reputation as a biographer and historian demonstrates the richness of a long career.
David Lloyd
