MP Marsha Singh's funeral to be held on Wednesday (From Asian Image)

Family say thankyou for kind messages from public

10:00am Monday 30th July 2012 in North of England news By Tanya O'Rourke

The funeral of former Bradford West MP Marsha Singh will take place on Wednesday.

The family of the long-serving Labour politician, who stood down earlier this year for medical reasons, have said members of the public are welcome to attend the service at Scholemoor Crematorium starting at 2pm.

Family will gather at 12.30pm at the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara in Leeds Road before the funeral, and will reconvene at the gurdwara afterwards.

Donations are requested to be made to Marie Curie Cancer Care and Age UK, two charities supported by Mr Singh, in lieu of flowers.

Mr Singh’s daughter Hardev said: “We have been overwhelmed by the words and kindness and we want to thank everyone for sharing their kind words and stories about my dad. It has helped at this difficult time.

“It is lovely to hear how much he meant to so many people.”

The family will be gathering at 2 Hallfield Road, off Lumb Lane, today and tomorrow from 4pm to 8pm, to meet people who want to pay their respects.

Councillor Imran Hussain , the deputy leader of Bradford Council, who was a close friend of Mr Singh, said: “Clearly he was a well-respected man across all communities in Bradford and a lot of people will want to come to pay their respects.”

Idris Bashir, another friend of Mr Singh, said: “We would like to thank everybody who will be coming and the hundreds of people who have sent messages.”

Mr Singh had represented the Bradford West constituency since 1997 before he stepped down in March, winning his seat at four successive General Elections.

He died on July 17, while on holiday in the Dominican Republic.

Tributes flooded in when his constituents, friends, family and party colleagues learned of his death, including the leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband, who described him as a “tireless representative” of Bradford West.