Funeral for Sheffield MP Harry Harpham

The 61 year old, who was elected as Brightside and Hillsborough's MP in May, died from cancer.

Published 16th Feb 2016

The friends, family and colleagues of a South Yorkshire MP, described as a 'rare gentleman in politics', have been paying their last respects to him.

Harry Harpham's funeral has taken place at Sheffield Cathedral.

Around 300 people were there for the service which was described as a 'celebration of his life'.

The 61 year old was elected as Brightside and Hillsborough MP only nine months ago.

He died from cancer.

Harry's brother gave a speech and his daughter sang.

Harry was a former miner and had been the Deputy Leader of Sheffield City Council before entering Westminster.

Members of the National Union of Miners were inside the cathedal with banners and wearing stickets saying 'coal not dole'.

The funeral service was taken by Labour colleague Dr Alan Billings who is South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner as well as a retired priest.

He said: 

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"I was very distressed to hear that Harry had died. We knew he was ill, but the suddenness of his death has been a great shock.

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"Although Harry had only been MP for Brightside and Hillsborough for a very short period, he had already been incredibly busy on behalf of constituents. He was in touch quite recently to arrange for us both to walk the beat of some city centre Police Community Support Officers, whose work he championed.

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"Harry, as a former miner at Clipstone Colliery, was one of that very rare breed - a genuinely working class MP.

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"Harry always had a friendly and cheerful smile. He will be greatly missed by his many friends both in the Labour Party and the city.

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"We offer our most sincere condolences to Gill and his family."

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Politicans across the country and South Yorkshire have paid tribute to him with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn saying "... to the very end he was fighting for working people".

There were also tributes on social media from some of his constituents and residents in the city.

He's been described as a "true fighter for Sheffield people", "truly salt-of-the-earth" and "a rare gentleman in politics".