ON his last visit to his beloved North-East last month, Lord Jack Dormand was championing two of his lifetime's political causes - education and the battle against deprivation.

At the age of 84, receiving an honorary doctorate at Sunderland University, he voiced concern at the Government's controversial proposals for tuition fees.

"It is very important that young people should not be prevented from going to university," he said.

These was a deep-rooted sentiment from the son of a County Durham miner, who through endeavour and commitment made it university and then right to the top of British politics.

Jack Dormand came to prominence in 1970, when he was elected as Labour MP for Easington. Succeeding Manny Shinwell in the seat, he had a hard act to follow.

But he managed to emulate his illustrious predecessor by becoming a much-respected chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

Like Shinwell, he came from the humblest of working class backgrounds. He was born in Haswell Workmen's Club where his father Bernard, a former miner, was steward.

He was educated at Wellfield Grammar School and then at Bede College, Durham, becoming a teacher during the war. It was the beginning of more than 60 years' service to the community in which he was born and raised.

In 1948, he moved from the classroom into administration as an education advisor and officer, first with the National Coal Board and then with Easington Rural District Council until the 1970 General Election.

Of his 17 years as MP, only five were as a member of a Labour Government. As a Whip during the Callaghan administration he had a torrid time, but earned respect for his tireless efforts behind the scenes to enable Labour to survive its full five years in office.

His spell in the Whips' office made him an ideal candidate as parliamentary party chairman in 1981, a post he held with distinction during the height of the Militant crisis until his retirement from the Commons six years later.

A staunch republican, he accepted Neil Kinnock's invitation to go to the Lords with some reluctance. But once installed as Lord Dormand of Easington, he remained active in politics right up to his death.

He was one of the most frequent contributors in the second chamber, even after major heart surgery in 2001.

He retained close links with his constituency, and was an outspoken critic of the pit closure programme. He also campaigned tirelessly for extra investment in the region.

For four years after entering the Lords, he and his wife Doris, a former teacher, continued to live in Easington Village. But they moved to Rutland because the weekly car journey to and from the House of Lords became too much.

The latest edition of Dod's Parliamentary Companion listed his continued membership of Houghton Rugby Club and Burnmoor Cricket Club, reflecting his affection for two sports he played until the age of 63.

It also listed his membership of Peterlee Labour Club and Easington Workmen's Club. He remained fiercely proud of his roots.

One of his closest parliamentary colleagues, Lord Graham of Edmonton, said: "He was one of the most respected parliamentarians both in the Commons and the Lords.

"He never stopped fighting the case for the mining industry and he was a credit to his family, his constituency and his party."