The son of an MP who retired to Benfleet has shared fond memories of his dad.
The Evening Echo contacted Dennis Groves - whose dad Tom was Labour MP for Stratford from 1922 to 1945 - after being approached by researcher Martin Davies, the great grandson of Tom's election agent in the 1920s.
Fond memories - Dennis Groves pours over photos of his father Tom, who was the Labour MP for Stratford Picture: DAVE HENDERSON
Mr Davies came to the newspaper looking for any relatives of the MP - and the Evening Echo tracked Tom's surviving son, Dennis, 83, to Hall Farm Road, Benfleet.
Mr Groves, married to wife Lucille for 56 years, said: "My father was Labour whip in 1929 when there were only 15 Labour MPs.
"There was a great flop in the value of money at the time, and there was a Tory landslide. But at the next election there were 250 Labour MPs."
However, Dennis decided not to follow his father's footsteps into a politic career, apart from standing unsuccessfully for election for the former Benfleet Council.
Published Friday, May 23, 2003
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article