I’m finalising this piece just before going to a funeral. Frank Dobson, our MP for many years, was the epitome of the local politician who never lost touch with his constituency even as he gained major cabinet responsibilities to be, finally and tragically, set up as a stooge in the London mayoral elections of 2000. Before, during and after that he spent a great deal of his time supporting the organisations that had tried to tape over the gaping holes in local authority responsibilities as the money got ever tighter.

One of his key charities was Coram’s Fields, an open space and playground for children (and accompanied adults) laid out after the demolition and relocation of the Foundling Hospital almost a century ago. Among the most persuasive voices in the long campaign to secure it and fight off development (have a look at Hansard, it’s all online) were George Lansbury MP and Ellen Wilkinson MP, giants of the inter-war Labour movement and die-hard social activists. Dobson chaired the charity for many years, including during the time it started to find other sources of financial support when the once-generous grant aid from the London Borough of Camden dried up. The charity has no endowment.

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