Shaking hands

"It was soon after the 1945 Labour victory in the General Election. I was a canvasser for the party and Arthur Moyle, our local MP was in Birmingham with Clem Attlee, the Prime Minister. Arthur Moyle was Attlee's private secretary.

"He said something like, 'here's a party stalwart, Prime Minister' and Attlee turned around and shook me by the hand.

"All my mates joked that I'd never wash that hand again! I was certainly very proud to have met him. I had a lot of respect for Attlee. I thought he was a great bloke. Mind you, I'd have respected any Labour prime minister at that time.

"I joined the party because I wanted to see a different society from my father who was part of that generation who came back from the First World War.

"A lot of people were shocked at the 1945 result but I wasn't altogether surprised. People were excited during that campaign, just like they would be later with Tony Blair and New Labour. They came in out in droves to vote. It was like you were witnessing a bloodless revolution.

"Later, they asked me to become a councillor but cycling was my first love. I didn't want to be in a position where people were calling on me for help when I was off cycling. So I always worked in the background. I was an election agent for several council candidates.

"Looking back, we haven't got everything we wanted. You never get Utopia, do you? But you should never stop working towards it.

"We are still seeking to build Jerusalem in England's green and pleasant land."