‘He made politics human’: Birkenhead mourns beloved MP Frank Field

At a cafe located in Rock Ferry, a highly disadvantaged area in the Wirral, there was a fixed-line phone that was directly linked to Frank Field's workplace in Westminster. This was a constant and reliable connection to the experienced MP of the region, although it wasn't always necessary to use it.

For four decades, Field served as the representative of Birkenhead. He frequently visited the Neo Community center, where he would socialize with locals and settle in by tending to the dishes. Volunteers were well aware that they would be engaged in a lengthy conversation if he asked: "Would you like a sandwich?"

According to Ema Wilkes, the creator and leader of Neo Community, who provides meals to numerous families every year through the Feeding Birkenhead initiative established by the previous MP, he would frequently arrive and converse amiably with individuals while seated in the cafe's center. He succeeded in humanizing politics, which Wilkes believes is his critical accomplishment, by presenting a genuine, approachable persona.

Field, who passed away at the age of 81 on Tuesday, gained recognition for his tireless efforts to eradicate poverty over the years. However, in Wirral, he is remembered by most for his other notable achievements.

In 2002, Anne Parsons, who was 78 at that time, encountered Field through her involvement in a nearby adolescent organization. When he awarded her for her volunteer work, he labeled her his "queen of hearts."

According to her statement, conversing with an MP wasn't a struggle. It was simple as sitting down and chatting with any regular individual. People would often halt him for a word wherever he went. Personally, she had an affectionate attachment towards him.

Jackie Knox, who is now 62 years old, recalls how Field assisted her mother with a small conflict regarding some construction work that was gradually extending into their terrace house many years ago. They contacted his office early in the day, and in just a few hours, he came by and settled the matter.

Actually, Field liked to chat a lot and it could be difficult to make him leave. Knox compared him to Ken Dodd, saying that he would forget to go back to his own place.

Many people from Field's generation knew him well and considered him a timeless figure, much like the Three Graces located near the River Mersey. However, he never acted like a high-ranking official. He didn't have a large staff of assistants or chauffeurs driving him around. Field preferred to take the bus or walk wherever he needed to go. Some volunteers even remember giving him rides to the podiatrist to get his feet taken care of.

Knox shared that even though he had a very humble personality, people always held him in high regard. As a kid, Knox had a lot of admiration for Frank Field as his family members would often mention him in conversations, saying things like "Frank is up to something important." Hearing Frank's name gave Knox a sense of reassurance as he knew that there was something positive happening.

Field delivered some of his most impactful speeches at the Commons by sharing the stories and experiences of individuals who frequent the Neo Community center.

He made several other Parliament members cry in 2017 by telling them about a resident who considered themselves fortunate for having a "lucky week". This was because their family had received an invitation to a funeral, and therefore they could consume the food that was left over after the reception.

Field set up Feeding Birkenhead in the past three years. The purpose of Feeding Birkenhead is to tackle hunger in the town, which is known to be one of the poorest areas in the United Kingdom. Feeding Birkenhead collaborates with churches, food banks, community groups, and other organizations to reach their goal of eradicating hunger.

Ten years later, the innovative endeavor has expanded and evolved into Feeding Britain, which presently provides meals to 100,000 youngsters during periods of school break.

Judy Mellor, who is a volunteer at the community centre, expressed her concern about the increase in the number of people seeking assistance. Initially, they thought it would be a temporary solution for those in need, but unfortunately, the situation has worsened. Currently, more individuals are relying on their services, and the situation is quite distressing.

In the midst of Birkenhead's grieving, it appears difficult to calculate the multitude of individuals that Field assisted during his forty years in parliament. Mellor was overwhelmed by the idea of the potential state of the town and Britain without their former member of parliament.

She was close to crying and said that thinking about it was scary. She wondered where we'd all be if Frank didn't help us and how many people he's helped. She's saddened by the event and believes that we could use more people like Frank to make a difference.

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