TWO hundred people gathered to commemorate the 80th birthday of Lord Foster of Bishop Auckland last night (Friday June 23) – and three former Labour leaders sent the former MP their warmest wishes.

Derek Foster represented Bishop Auckland from 1979 to 2005 and was Labour chief whip for a decade from 1985 during turbulent times for the party. Nick Brown, the current Labour chief whip and Newcastle MP, praised Lord Foster’s “quiet and able stewardship” of the party in that period which enabled leader Neil Kinnock to proceed with modernising reforms.

Mr Brown said that the “shrewedest, ablest political mind” who advised Lord Foster was his wife, Anne. Mr Brown also delivered birthday wishes from Mr Kinnock, Gordon Brown and current leader, Jeremy Corbyn.

Sir John Hall told of how Lord Foster had fought all his life for the economic development of Bishop Auckland and the wider North-East and Jonathan Ruffer, chairman of Auckland Castle Trust, proposed a toast to his “remarkable service” to the community.

In response, Lord Foster called on the region not to be so shy in acknowledging its successes and for it to host a showcase exhibition. He said: “Let’s celebrate our strengths and believe in ourselves and shout from the hilltops how good we are.”

The dinner was held at Ramside Hall, near Durham City, and featured music from a trombone choir from Lord Foster’s birthplace in Millfield, Sunderland. The backdrop for the speeches was the Eldon Drift miners’ banner which features a picture of Lord Foster alongside other Labour luminaries, including Keir Hardie.

Speaking on behalf of his wife, Lord Foster said: “We couldn’t believe that 200 people would want to celebrate my birthday. We are deeply honoured.”