THOUGH given appropriate prominence in the news, the death of Barbara Castle did not cause flags to fly at half mast throughout Britain. It did not bring queues to sign books of condolence. It did not have archbishops falling over themselves to tell us what selfless service to the nation Baroness Castle had performed.

Yet, here was a woman to whom we, the people, have strong reasons to give thanks for her life. In the 1930s, she was a leading figure in what was called the Outdoor Movement. It prised open access to the countryside and helped establish our national parks. Without this protective status, these lovely places, a source of physical and spiritual refreshment to millions, would now be a ghastly mixture of posh houses, caravan parks and vulgar "attractions".

As Transport Minister, Mrs Castle defied the brewing industry and much public opinion to introduce the breathalyser. Initially, through fear, its immediate impact led to a more responsible attitude to drink-driving.

Equal pay for women, so obviously a matter of natural justice, yet resisted on the grounds that it couldn't be afforded and would cost jobs, was another cause pushed passionately by Mrs Castle. And then came her twin "pension" achievements - linking the basic pension to earnings and creating the Earnings Related Pension, designed to ensure that those lacking a company pension enjoyed something like parity in old age with those who did.

In her eighties and nineties, Baroness Castle could have opted for an easy life. Instead, she battled to restore the pension-earnings link, scrapped by Margaret Thatcher. With the earnings-related pension also gone, and company pension schemes winding up, Barbara Castle recognised that none of the substitutes is likely to stave off poverty in old age for millions.

Yes, well might Tony Blair have saluted Barbara Castle as "courageous, determined, tireless, principled... one of Britain's great political figures and a great heroine of the Labour movement''. No doubt it was only in my twisted imagination that I thought I heard him add under his breath: "And thank God she's out of my hair now.''

Another recent death of note: Ruth Handler, creator of Barbie, the world's most successful doll. I trust you spotted that she was the daughter of an immigrant Polish blacksmith. The youngest of his ten children, to be exact. "They come here and breed like rabbits'': the voice of popular prejudice in Britain. America's pre-eminence in many fields stems from the new blood and invigoration brought by her immigrants.

Back to pensions. So far is New Labour from Barbara Castle's vision that Ruth Kelly, economic secretary to the Treasury, recently said: "We are determined to ensure that people provide for themselves in retirement.'' Except MPs, of course, who have raised their own pension from a fiftieth of their final salary for each year worked to a fortieth. If Ms Kelly holds her job until just 2006 this uprating will give her a pension at 65 of £16,500 - which would cost £300,000 to fund privately. But no, you naughty people. Don't dare demand anything like the same.