Nice One, Cyril

I was awfully sad to hear today about the death of Liberal Legend, Sir Cyril Smith, former MP for Rochdale.

Cyril was a legend, who rekindled the Liberal tradition in the English northern towns. He held Rochdale with ease for 20 years - the party has succeeded in holding the seat only some of the time since then - and it was lost again in May. Cyril has a huge following and he was a highly effective MP for the people of Rochdale and a real TV personality to boot.

There is some history between Cyril and a much younger Fraser Macpherson. In 1985 (if I remember correctly - I may be a year out) the UK Liberal Assembly came to Dundee. Cyril wrote to Liberal News saying he wouldn't be going to Dundee as it was too far away from Rochdale for his elderly mum to attend. Young Mr Macpherson replied to Liberal News pointing out the distance between Rochdale and Dundee was pretty similar to the distance between Rochdale and Bournemouth, the venue of the previous year's conference, where Cyril and Mrs Smith (and young Mr M) had turned up.

Cyril then sent me a letter addressed "Fraser Macpherson, Broughty Ferry, Dundee" (I lived with my parents then in Broughty Ferry and amazingly the letter arrived despite the rather limited address on the envelope!) A grumpy exchange of letters ensued, where we disagreed about the distance between Rochdale and Dundee!

Cyril was a man of strong views - he was also a man full of kindness and decency - who served the people of Rochdale with distinction for many years. Nice one Cyril - you did Rochdale and the Liberals proud.