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Tony Benn: Memories of "a wonderful man"

Musician Billy Bragg and 5 live listeners Andy in Manchester, Sue in Cambridge and Trevor in Coventry pay tribute to Tony Benn and tell Rachel Burden about the times they met him.

Musician Billy Bragg and 5 live listeners paid tribute to Tony Benn, who has died at the age of 88, and tell Rachel Burden about the times they met him.

Left wing activist Billy Bragg said he had β€œreally great memories” of meeting Tony Benn during a miners’ strike.

Andy in Manchester said he β€œchewed the fat” with Tony Benn, who was an MP for over 50 years, at a Labour conference:

β€œHe always used to take a portable camping chair with him, he always wanted to be sitting with people and having conversations and we chewed the fat for 10, 15 minutes.”

Sue in Cambridge, who is involved in animal rights, said Tony Benn was β€œa wonderful man” who supported their cause:

β€œEvery time we were at parliament, anything that he believed in, he always came out; whatever the weather; snow, rain, hail, he would come out and stand with us, talk with us, encourage us.”

Trevor in Coventry said he was β€œso lucky” to meet and speak to Tony Benn and will β€œnever forget” when he received a phone call from the veteran left-wing campaigner:

β€œI wrote a book and Tony had a copy of the book, and for no reason he rang me; I’ll never forget on a Sunday evening at 10 O’ Clock; just to thank me."

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