Procession held to honour 'larger than life' Northampton South MP Brian Binley

Former MP of Northampton South Brian Binley was laid to rest yesterday.

A procession was led through Northampton town centre today in honour of the "larger than life" Northampton MP Brian Binley.

Mr Binley, who was MP for the town's South constituency from 2005 - 2015 and previously served as a county councillor, died aged 78 on Christmas Day at Northampton General Hospital.

Today (January 21), colleagues and dignitaries from the borough and county council stood on the steps of the Guildhall as Mr Binley's funeral procession drove through St Giles Street, where a Cobblers' flag was flown at half-mast.

A socially-distanced gathering of council dignitaries met on the steps of the Guildhall for the procession.

Brian's son Matthew told the Chronicle & Echo: "It's been said it didn't matter what your politics were, Dad was able to get on with anybody. I've had letters and condolences from MPs and ex-MPs from all across the political spectrum. I think more often that not he was more popular with opposition MPs than he was with his own party.

"What I've heard repeatedly in the last few weeks is that he was a larger than life character. You knew when he entered the room. He wasn't ever too busy to talk to you.

"The thing he loved the most was that he was born and bred as a Northamptonshire lad. He was one of Northampton's biggest fans - everything he did and everything he tried to do was, in his mind, all about Northamptonshire."

Born in Finedon, Mr Binley joined the Conservative Party aged 16.

After a career as chairman of Wellingborough-based BCC Marketing Services Ltd, he was elected to the county council in 1997, where he was a cabinet member. He later won the Northampton South constituency from Labour's Tony Clarke in 2005 and served for 10 years.

It is understood that Mr Binley died at NGH at the end of a lengthy battle with cancer and after contracting Covid-19.

Mr Binley, who was also known as a lifelong support of Northampton Town, was today also led past the home of the Cobblers in Sixfields one last time as part of his procession.

County councillor Phil Larrett, who worked alongside Mr Binley for several years and attended the procession, said: "You could always rely on Brian to have a good laugh.

The flag for Northampton Town FC - of which Mr Binley was a lifelong fan - was flown at half-mast.

"He was fantastic with people and could build a rapport with anyone. People warmed to him despite his loud roar at times. He will be missed."

A service for close family and friends was held at St Mary The Virgin's Church in Finedon.

The procession through the town centre was led by Mayor of Northampton, Councillor Brian Sargeant.