My friend Keith Toms, who has died aged 82, was a committed socialist and political activist. He was a Labour councillor in Harrow, north-west London, for 32 years and spent his life campaigning, protesting and helping others in need. He was also a consummate reciter from memory of beautiful classical poetry, an avid birdwatcher and a serial buyer of Lada cars.
Keith was born in what he described as the poorest part of the village of Cwmbran, south Wales, now a new town, to Amy (nee Honess), of Spanish-Gypsy heritage, who worked in a barbed wire factory during the first world war, and Albert Toms, a glass blower, coal miner and communist. Both his parents left school at 12 and valued education highly. Keith won a scholarship to Abersychan grammar school.
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