'Thank you for opening that door and my father's mind'

JOHN PRESCOTT HONOURED BY OXFORD'S RUSKIN COLLEGE WITH ROOM DEDICATION

- By DEBORAH HALL

RUSKIN College, Oxford, has named one of its central teaching spaces The John Prescott Room in honour of the late John Prescott, former Deputy Prime Minister and alumnus of the college, in a moving ceremony attended by family, friends, and former colleagues.

The event was marked by a powerful speech delivered by Lord Prescott's son, former Labour political adviser David Prescott, who paid tribute to his father's transformative time at Ruskin College between 1963 and 1965, where he was tutored by respected historian Raphael Samuel. The college, now part of the University of West London, played a pivotal role in John Prescott's journey from ship steward to one of the most recognisable figures in British politics.

David told attendees: "John called his two years here 'the joy of my life! Even in the last stages of his life, when names and memories were fading due to Alzheimer's, Ruskin remained vivid to him. That tells you everything."