Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner MP Nick Hurd has today(Thursday) led tributes to John Wilkinson, who held the Conservative seat before him for 26 years.

Mr Wilkinson died in the Isle of Man at the age of 73 earlier this month. His wife Ceci and son Alex live on the island, and although he lived in Ruislip for a number of years, Mr Wilkinson often travelled to a home he owned there.

Courteous

Mr Hurd said: "Over the years, many constituents have told me what a first class MP John was. The word that keeps coming up is 'courteous'.

"He took great pride in his public service and treated people properly. We all respected him for that."

Educated at Eton and Cambridge, and after a spell as a pilot in the RAF, Mr Wilkinson was to become a local MP in 1979.

By the time of his retirement, he was one of the longest-serving Conservative MPs.

Conservative candidate for Ruislip and Northwood, John wilkinson checks the progress of voting at Ruislip methodist church with Mariel Simons in 2001

Gentleman of the old school

Ray Graham, chairman of the Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner Conservative Association, also paid tribute to the late politician.

"It was with great sadness that we learned of the death recently of our former MP John Wilkinson and our sincere condolences were sent to his wife Ceci and son Alex at their home in the Isle of Man; an island so beloved by John," Mr Graham said.

"Ceci is Chilean and consequently she and John spent much time there after he ceased being an MP in 2005 after representing what was then the Ruislip-Northwood constituency.

"John was a thorough gentleman of the old school and was much respected. A firm eurosceptic John was almost exclusively a back bencher during his parliamentary career, but as a constituency MP he was second to none.

"He will be fondly remembered."

The three Johns

John Wilkinson at the opening of mental health facilities in Colham Green Road, Hillingdon in 2002. John McDonnell answers a phone call during a lull in the official group photograph. L-R: John McDonnell, John Wilkinson, Catherine Dann, John Randall.

Sir John Randall, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, had fond memories of his early political career alongside Mr Wilkinson.

"John Wilkinson will be remembered as being an excellent constituent MP. He was always very kind to me.

"When I first got into Parliament, we had the three Johns; John Randall, John McDonnell and John Wilkinson, very much working as a team, putting Hillingdon first."

Please send tributes to zoe.drewett@trinitymirror.com