When I encountered Reg Chrimes as my tutor in education at CF Mott College of Education half a century ago, I was impressed by him as a quiet and gentle man, and a thoughtful and sensitive educator. I would like to think that he influenced my own style of teaching.

It happens that the college was located in Huyton, Liverpool, the constituency of the Labour leader, Harold Wilson. However, such was Reg’s professionalism that at the time he gave no suggestion of his commitment to Labour politics or parliamentary aspirations, and did not refer to his achievements in local government as a councillor.