Lord Morris of Manchester Old Friend of MUN is Remembered For His Great Works!

Posted Friday, October 12, 2012 – 15:51

By Dominic Claeys-Jackson

Disability campaigner Lord Morris of Manchester, who died in August aged 84, was commemorated for the ‘real difference’ he made, at a Wythenshawe church memorial service today.

The public ceremony, at St Anthony’s RC Church, was in the constituency he served as Labour Co-operative MP from 1964 to 1997.

Morris was globally-renowned for driving the introduction of legislation to recognise and give rights to the disabled – the first act of its kind in the world.

Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Elaine Boyes, praised his lifelong dedication to public service and battle for disabled rights.

She said: “Lord Morris made a very real difference to people’s lives and it is only right that we pay tribute to all he achieved.

“My thoughts and sympathy go out to Lord Morris’ friends and family while we remember his important work”

Morris’s pioneering of disability rights was influenced by his father, who lost an eye and leg in the First World War.

Also suffering lung damage through gassing, his health was in decline due to his injuries until his passing in 1935.

However, Morris’ mother was not entitled to a widow’s war pension as the official cause of death was heart failure, which Morris perceived as social injustice.

Introducing the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act in 1970, he became the Minister for the Disabled in 1974 – both worldwide landmarks for disability rights.

He also introduced a Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill in 1991 before his political retirement, and was made a life peer in 1997.

Sue Blaylock, 57, part of the Wythenshawe Wheelers disabled cycling club, spoke glowingly of Lord Morris’ work.

She said: “The opportunities now for disabled people are so much greater as a result of his input on campaigning.

“In terms of Wythenshawe in particular, we’ve got loads of activities from wheelchair dancing to our cycling club, which is the biggest disability cycling club in the country.

“His input and campaigning has moved things on a lot faster than they otherwise would have.

“He was very approachable; he lived locally and was very active within the community and his passion for human rights – let alone disability rights – was evident.”

Born into deprivation in Ancoats in 1928, Alf Morris went on to study at Ruskin College in Oxford, the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester before turning to politics.

At the time of his death, Morris was Vice President of the Disabled Living Foundation and President of the Haemophilia Society.

He died in hospital on August 12 after a short illness, and is survived by his wife Irene and his two sons and two daughters.

Credit: Mancunian Matters:link

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