The Rt. Hon. Lord Foster of Bishop Auckland DL celebrated his 80th birthday with 200 guests for dinner last week at Ramside Hall. Derek is a Labour Life peer sitting in the House of Lords since 2005. He was our MP from 1979 when Newton Aycliffe was part of the Bishop Auckland constituency. Tony Blair became our MP following a boundary change serving from 1983 until 2007. Derek Foster held the position of Minister of State (Cabinet Office) in government. He was Shadow Secretary of State (1995 to 1997), Shadow Chief Whip 1985 to 1995 in opposition. He also served on the Labour Party National Executive Committee.
Praise was lavished on Derek Foster’s political career by guest speakers Nick Brown Labour’s Chief Whip, Sir John Hall and Jonathan Ruffer. Each in turn recalled the service Derek gave to developing not only Bishop Auckland but this whole region. Responding Derek called on everyone to celebrate the north’s success and shout out how good we are. Each of the speakers spoke on how well supported Derek was by his wife Anne and Derek in his usual humble way said how surprised and honoured he was that 200 people would want to celebrate his birthday.
