MP remembered well
What a marvellous way to be remembered.
Yesterday would have been the late David Taylor MP’s 64th birthday. Very sadly he died of an unexpected heart attack on Boxing Day 2009. David was a fit, non-smoker and non-drinker and no one suspected that he had any serious health problems.
I am writing a biography of him and I have spent time in his old constituency interviewing his family and close friends. While I knew him well as an MP, I know very little of his life before parliament and outside of parliament. Of course, he had a fascinating hinterland.
Yesterday there was a walk dedicated to his memory. It started with a surprise announcement. Coronet Copse will henceforth be known as the David Taylor Wood. It’s situated near his home village of Heather near Ashby-de-la Zouch. The National Forest and Forestry Commission made the decision yesterday. David had no interest in money or fame. But he loved nature and especially the national Forest. He would have prized the notion of having a forest dedicated to his memory.
I
will be back in the village of Heather (pronounced Hee-ther) this week to seek
out more anecdotes about his past. It’s still a mystery how such a modest
unassuming man made it through the macho-world of candidate selection that is
the gateway to choice for election. From everyone, including political
opponents, there is warmth and affection for a good man and sadness because of
his untimely death.
The
more I learn about David , the more determined I become to try to do justice to
his memory. It’s a daunting task.