Malcolm Wicks. Pic: Croydon Labour

A memorial service will be held for Malcolm Wicks MP at 11am on Friday October 19 at Croydon Minster. Reception will follow in the Parish Hall across the Minster Green.

The Labour MP for Croydon North Malcolm Wicks died aged 65 after serving his borough for 20 years. 

Prior to his death Wicks expressed a wish that anyone choosing to make a charitable donation in his memory to consider Carers UK. Donations can be made online at www.justgiving.com/malcolmwicks.

Fellow politicians praised the Croydon North MP as a “thoroughly decent, intelligent and compassionate man” whose death left a “huge hole” in the party.

Labour leader Ed Miliband paid tribute to the former energy minister. He said: “He was a brilliant energy minister, he was a deep thinker about welfare and pensions, and Labour to his core.”

Miliband continued: “I have lost a wise confidant and most importantly a dear friend and the Labour Party has lost one of its sharpest thinkers. Our thoughts go to Malcolm’s wife, Margaret, and his family.”

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute, describing Mr Wicks as “a great thinker, writer, campaigner and parliamentarian”.

Before becoming an MP, Mr Wicks was a lecturer, then a social policy analyst at the Home Office, and director of the Family Policy Studies Centre.

As an MP he held a variety of ministerial briefs under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown including pensions, science and energy.

In 2008 the married father and grandfather stepped down from government and spent two years as the prime minister’s special representative on international energy issues. He was also made a member of the Privy Council.

If you are attending the Memorial Service contact Louise Szpera on 020 7219 4418 so she can notify the family of likely numbers.