Sir Patrick Duffy, a former Labour MP and defense minister, passed away at the age of 105 after a brief illness. He was known as the longest-living former MP in the UK. A close family friend, Kevin Meagher, described Sir Duffy as a living historical repository, able to vividly recall encounters with notable figures like Clement Attlee.
During his remarkable life, Sir Duffy was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and received a papal knighthood from Pope John Paul II. He also survived a plane crash during World War II while serving in the Fleet Air Arm, demonstrating immense resilience and courage.
Mr. Meagher recounted a harrowing incident where Sir Duffy lay in a crashed aircraft on a Scottish mountainside for 24 hours, close to death from exposure. Despite facing such adversity, Sir Duffy’s stoicism and fortitude shone through.
Sir Duffy’s political career began in 1950, culminating in his election as an MP in 1963. He served as a Member of Parliament until his retirement in 1992, holding various positions, including parliamentary under-secretary for the Royal Navy in the late 1970s. Notably, he openly criticized Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for the death of Bobby Sands, a republican hunger striker, in 1981.
Described as an extraordinary man with a wealth of achievements, Sir Duffy will be remembered for his kindness, humor, and remarkable ability to recall events from a bygone era. His legacy of accomplishment, camaraderie, and wit will be deeply missed by all who knew him.