Paul Goggins - funeral details and further tributes

Paul Goggins MP

The funeral of Paul Goggins, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, who died on 7 January, will take place at St John's Cathedral, Salford on Thursday 16 January at 12 noon. This will be a public service and Paul’s family have asked that donations to CAFOD, the Cardinal Hume Centre or Leukaemia Lymphoma Research are made instead of flowers. 

Chris Bain, Director of CAFOD, writes:

I have known Paul and his wife Wyn for 40 years since our University days. I have always felt part of their wonderful extended family and seen their children grow up to be as lovely as their parents.

When Paul was elected MP in 1997 I had also just got a job in London and we decided to share a house for our time in London during the working week. For both of us, seeing a friendly face after a hard day’s work was a comfort.

Paul’s family always came first, even when staying in London. Every night he would come into the house, make himself a cup of tea, sit in his chair and ring Wyn. And they would talk about their respective days and what the kids were up to.

For all Paul’s achievements in politics and social campaigning, he once told me he was most proud of how his children had turned out – ‘Wyn and I must have done something right!’ He had tears of joy in his eyes as he showed me pictures of his first grandchild last year.

With Paul you got what you saw and heard: there were no sides to him. He immediately inspired trust. His company was engaging and affirming, with a loud spontaneous laugh that was infectious. The only cross words we ever had were about football and the merits of his beloved Manchester City! I shall miss Paul terribly, quite simply he was one of the finest and warmest men I knew and I am blessed to have been his friend.

Columban Father Ed O'Connell writes from Peru:

“I have known Paul for more than thirty years and have read some of the many tributes, as moving and powerful as they are, they only begin to give a glimpse of Paul and his life journey. He has been a very special person to so many. Just to say for myself, I loved him dearly, and was inspired by his passion for the ordinary person, especially the most disadvantaged, and for his tireless campaigning, in the old days of Church Action on Poverty and then in the House of Commons and is his many jobs there.

He never lost sight of his faith and his vision of the Kingdom values for society and was always at the same time a most wonderful family man, very proud of Wyn and the family and their achievements. Wyn deserved much longer with him. Like many I am heart-broken to have lost him, to be deprived of his company and for the many unfinished projects he had going to help those in need. His light and commitment remains to spur us on and all we can do is to ask him, now in the fullness of the Kingdom, to encourage us to carry on accompanying those who need a voice and a hand to achieve their full rights and dignity.”

Monsignor Anthony Kay, Salford Vicar General

"The Catholic community is deeply saddened at the death of Paul Goggins MP. Paul was a devoted husband and father, a highly committed Catholic Member of Parliament, and a great example to us in so many ways. He lived and breathed his Faith in every aspect of his life, in his family, his community, and as a Member of Parliament, and he will be deeply missed. Our prayers and thoughts are very much with his dear wife Wyn and her family. May he rest in peace."

See also: ICN 9 January 2014 Tributes to Paul Goggins MP www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=23926

CAFOD pays tribute to Paul Goggins www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=23917

and Paul Goggins MP has died www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=23916