Tireless pensioners' rights campaigner Harold Cox died on 7 July, 2008, aged 85.

Mr Cox, who was made an MBE in 1994 for services to education, suffered a fall in December 2007 and had been ill for some time. He died at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.

He is best known latterly for his work with the Southern Derbyshire Pensioners' Association, which he founded in 1983 with his late wife, Caroline, who died of cancer in 1999.

Mr Cox campaigned for pensioners' rights, financial help with heating bills, the retention of the state pension and against TV licence increases.

He also led an active protest over the proposed closures of small post offices in the Derby area, taking petitions to Westminster and Derby North MP Bob Laxton.

Mr Laxton said: "Harold will be sadly missed by elderly and retired residents across the city.

"He worked tirelessly for many years on their behalf raising their concerns with councils, politicians and Government.

"I knew Harold from the time when he worked at Rolls-Royce where he was an active trade unionist

"At times he could be a rather prickly character but he fought his corner long and hard.

"Many residents of the city should to be grateful to him for taking up the cudgels in the personal battles many of them had with various authorities."

The pensioners' association, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in March, and has an office on the balcony in the Market Hall, started in Mr Cox's front room.

Community was at the core of Mr Cox's life, and he started many committees in the Sinfin area and was chairman of governors at Sinfin Community School for 18 years.

He also worked with governors at Grampian Primary School, served as a Derbyshire county councillor and became affectionately known as "Mr Sinfin".

Labour party leader Chris Williamson paid tribute to Mr Cox, whom he described as "a great servant to the city".

"It's a devastating blow to lose somebody like Harold. He was a stalwart of the Labour movement throughout his life and served as a ward councillor for Sinfin.

"He was a real champion for the working classes, he touched so many lives and will be sadly missed by all."

Conservative party leader Philip Hickson said: "Harold was an old school gentleman who was very committed to the rights of elderly people, and was a very nice man who will be sadly missed."

One of the biggest initiatives Mr Cox pursued was encouraging pensioners to claim the benefits they are entitled.

A friend and former chairman of the Derby seniors' forum, Ann Crosby, said: "He deserves the respect of society in Derby because he has done so much for the city, and not just to help older people."

Mr Cox also led a delegation to Blackpool, in 2000, to protest at a 75p increase in state pensions and was involved in the creation of community transport in Derby, the city's Shopmobility and the Live at Home scheme and represented retired Rolls-Royce workers.

In 2003 Mr Cox made his second trip to Buckingham Palace for a garden party held for people "who make contributions to the way we live", following a nomination by the Evening Telegraph.

Last November, Mr Cox accepted a Derbyshire County Council Excellence in the Community Award.

The Mayor of Derby, Barbara Jackson, a friend of Mr Cox for many years, said: "Harold endlessly campaigned for people's rights and this was recognised in 2000 with a civic award from the city.

"In recent years, despite several falls and failing health, he never gave up campaigning on behalf of people."

Mr Cox leaves a son, Glenn, and daughter, Lynne, as well as several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

TRIBUTES are pouring in for tireless pensioners' rights campaigner Harold Cox, who has died, aged 85.

Mr Cox, who was made an MBE in 1994 for services to education, suffered a fall last December and had been ill for some time. He died at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary on Monday.

He is best known for his work, in recent years, with the Southern Derbyshire Pensioners' Association, which he founded in 1983 with his late wife, Caroline, who died of cancer in 1999.

Mr Cox campaigned for pensioners' rights, financial help with heating bills, the retention of the state pension and against TV licence increases.

He also led an active protest over the proposed closures of small post offices in the Derby area, taking petitions to Westminster and Derby North MP Bob Laxton.

Mr Laxton said: "Harold will be sadly missed by elderly and retired residents across the city.

"He worked tirelessly for many years on their behalf raising their concerns with councils, politicians and Government.

"I knew Harold from the time when he worked at Rolls-Royce where he was an active trade unionist

"At times he could be a rather prickly character but he fought his corner long and hard.

"Many residents of the city should to be grateful to him for taking up the cudgels in the personal battles many of them had with various authorities."

The pensioners' association, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in March, and has an office on the balcony in the Market Hall, started in Mr Cox's front room.

Community was at the core of Mr Cox's life, and he started many committees in the Sinfin area and was chairman of governors at Sinfin Community School for 18 years.

He also worked with governors at Grampian Primary School, served as a Derbyshire county councillor and became affectionately known as "Mr Sinfin".

Labour party leader Chris Williamson paid tribute to Mr Cox, who he described as "a great servant to the city".

"It's a devastating blow to lose somebody like Harold. He was a stalwart of the labour movement throughout his life and served as a ward councillor for Sinfin.

"He was a real champion for the working classes, he touched so many lives and will be sadly missed by all."

Conservative party leader Philip Hickson said: "Harold was an old school gentleman who was very committed to the rights of elderly people, and was a very nice man who will be sadly missed."

One of the biggest initiatives Mr Cox pursued was encouraging pensioners to claim the benefits they are entitled.

A friend and former chairman of the Derby seniors' forum, Ann Crosby, said: "He deserves the respect of society in Derby because he has done so much for the city, and not just to help older people."

Mr Cox also led a delegation to Blackpool, in 2000, to protest at a 75p increase in state pensions and was involved in the creation of community transport in Derby, the city's Shopmobility and the Live at Home scheme and represented retired Rolls-Royce workers.

In 2003 Mr Cox made his second trip to Buckingham Palace for a garden party held for people "who make contributions to the way we live", following a nomination by the Evening Telegraph.

Last November, Mr Cox accepted a Derbyshire County Council Excellence in the Community Award.

The Mayor of Derby, Barbara Jackson, a friend of Mr Cox for many years, said: "Harold endlessly campaigned for people's rights and this was recognised in 2000 with a civic award from the city.

"In recent years, despite several falls and failing health, he never gave up campaigning on behalf of people."

Mr Cox leaves a son, Glenn, and daughter, Lynne, as well as several grandchildren and great grandchildren.