Neil Trafford’s memorial celebration

By Ed Fordham | Wed 10th December 2008 - 10:16 pm

Last Friday saw the memorial celebration of Councillor Neil Trafford in Manchester Town Hall.

The memorial celebration was recorded and is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.co.uk/russelleagling. Part I is below:

This was a major gathering of the Liberal Democrat campaigning family in tribute of one of our most influential and gifted campaigners. Neil, who was tragically killed at the age of 33 in a car crash just two weeks ago, was one of the architects of the win in Manchester Withington (2005) and a leading by-election stalwart. Neil was a close friend to many and had a wide range of interests including history and music and this was reflected by his friends, colleagues, family and partner Peter Paul Wiegmans.

Neil started his political career in Swindon before going to Taunton, Cornwall before settling in Manchester and the North West.

One of the most regular trainers for the party at Peterborough, Wyboston, most party Conferences as well as providing direct advice to seats, local parties and candidates.

Neil’s three causes for which a collection was taken were Tear Fund, Marie Louise Gardens, and the Lodewijk Foundation.

If you wish to make a donation to those pleas either contact them direct or send a cheque payable to Dr J Crotty, to Dr Jo Crotty, 1st Floor, 6 Rylands Street, Warrington, WA1 1EN.

Our thoughts are with Neil’s family and partner at this incredibly difficult time.

Read more by Ed Fordham .
This entry was posted in News.

5 Comments

Gareth Epps 11th Dec '08 - 8:32am

Thanks ever so much for posting this. I wanted so much to be there, but couldn’t get away from work, and it’s great to have been able to share the most fantastic memories.
pam 11th Dec '08 - 9:20am

Thanks for posting this Ed, it was a very fitting tribute to a great guy and talented campaigner who was taken far too soon,

Your own tribute to Neil did him proud too,

Pam
Dave 11th Dec '08 - 9:43am

Thanks to Russell and Ed for putting these videos up on youTube. Like Gareth I wanted to attend, but work was in the way.
Simon’s closing remarks were particularly good, and brought a tear to my eye.
Cheltenham Robin 11th Dec '08 - 1:21pm

Yes thanks Ed, only met Neil a couple of times, at conference training and bumping into him at by-elections so I didn’t know him as well as many others.

The tributes on here, in the videos and elsewhere on Lib Dem blogs show how much he will be missed.

Also on a personal level your tribute was excellent.
Anonymous 12th Dec '08 - 1:57am

“Part I is below”

A very short part indeed, less than one second.