TRIBUTES have been paid to former MP Terry Davis who has died aged 86.
Mr Davis was the MP for the former Bromsgrove constituency between 1971 and 1974, which included the urban district of Redditch, after winning a by-election.
When the constituency was abolished, Terry became the MP for Birmingham Stechford and its successor seat Birmingham Hodge Hill until 2004.
Mr Davis then became the Secretary General of the Council of Europe between 2004 and 2009.
Redditch Borough councillor Bill Hartnett said: "One of my first exposures to politics was when I was at school in Bromsgrove around 1972/1973 when Terry spoke to the school assembly about being an MP.
"I later met Terry when I joined the Labour Party, Terry was very kind and a great MP, around 1979/1980 Terry invited me to Westminster and took me on a Tour of the House of Commons."
During his time in Parliament, Mr Davis served on the Public Accounts Committee, briefly in 1979, then again from November 1987 to May 1994. He also served on the European Scrutiny Committee from July 2001 to June 2004.
Liam Byrne, the MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill & Solihull North, said: "Terry was a lifelong, passionate fighter for justice and for Hodge Hill.
"Renowned for his diligent casework, he was a tough fighter for constituents and his work on human rights was so renowned that he elected as Secretary General of the Council of Europe in 2004.
He shared his deepest condolences to his wife Anne, their children Katherine and John and grandchildren. Mr Davis moved to Stourbridge from Oxford a few years ago to be nearer to their daughter, and contributed to the local party, taking on the secretary and vice-chair roles in Pedmore & Stourbridge East Branch.
Supporters have shared their tributes and messages of condolence on Facebook.
Clive Cheetham described him as a "wonderful man who inspired so many of us".
Esther Gray described him as "a hero for us who vote Labour in Bromsgrove."
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