This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-48460510
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tributes paid to Labour's Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn | Tributes paid to Labour's Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Tributes have been paid to Labour peer Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn, who died on Wednesday aged 78. | Tributes have been paid to Labour peer Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn, who died on Wednesday aged 78. |
| MP Keith Vaz described the Gujarati-born father of eight, who was made a life peer in 2000, as "Labour's northern rock". | MP Keith Vaz described the Gujarati-born father of eight, who was made a life peer in 2000, as "Labour's northern rock". |
| Rashid Mogradia, of The Council of British Hajjis, described him as "a formidable businessman and a community champion". | Rashid Mogradia, of The Council of British Hajjis, described him as "a formidable businessman and a community champion". |
| The peer's funeral will be held in Blackburn later. | The peer's funeral will be held in Blackburn later. |
| Lord Patel, known locally as Lord Adam, came to Blackburn in the 1960s after studying at the University of Baroda in Gujarat State, India. | Lord Patel, known locally as Lord Adam, came to Blackburn in the 1960s after studying at the University of Baroda in Gujarat State, India. |
| He was a founder member of several community organisations and managing director of a clothing company. | He was a founder member of several community organisations and managing director of a clothing company. |
| Lord Patel served as director of the East Lancashire Training Enterprise Council, president of Lancashire Council of Mosques, vice-president of the Blackburn Community Relations Council and chairman of The Council of British Hajjis, which looks after the interests of Muslims going on pilgrimage to Mecca. | Lord Patel served as director of the East Lancashire Training Enterprise Council, president of Lancashire Council of Mosques, vice-president of the Blackburn Community Relations Council and chairman of The Council of British Hajjis, which looks after the interests of Muslims going on pilgrimage to Mecca. |
| Mr Vaz said: "Adam Patel's life embodies the very essence of the journey taken by so many British Asians since their arrival in the UK. | Mr Vaz said: "Adam Patel's life embodies the very essence of the journey taken by so many British Asians since their arrival in the UK. |
| "He was Labour through and through but also kept his deep roots in the British Muslim community of the north-west even after he entered the House of Lords. | "He was Labour through and through but also kept his deep roots in the British Muslim community of the north-west even after he entered the House of Lords. |
| "His desire to help everyone who needed it frustrated his large family circle who had to cope with people visiting his home well after midnight. | "His desire to help everyone who needed it frustrated his large family circle who had to cope with people visiting his home well after midnight. |
| "He was loyal, devoted to family, strong and dedicated to his causes." | "He was loyal, devoted to family, strong and dedicated to his causes." |
| Dame Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said Lord Patel was a "great man." | |
| The MP, who worked with him when she was leader of Lancashire County Council in the 1980s and 90s, added: "Adam was a tireless advocate for the community." | |
| Providing halal meat in schools and ensuring Muslim burial requirements were respected were two of his many achievements. |