Frank Field
Frank Field has died and our world is the poorer for it. We have known of his illness for a long time, but that doesn’t soften the loss. Only yesterday we remembered his work on behalf of the misadvised steelworkers.
I am glad that Al Rush has commented.
Aah, very sad. I had such a lot of time for Frank Field – appointed to cabinet by Tony Blair to ‘think the unthinkable’ (history will judge Frank far more kindly), awarded Companion of Honour, and a true friend of BSPS steelworkers. https://t.co/98QIxNrGni
— Rush (@exRAF_Al) April 24, 2024
Al carries the flame
Frank Field and Al Rush, should have met in 2017 had not Al’s intemperance on twitter denied him an appearance at the WPC
My partner made a sound comment
“he was the kind of person who made you stop to think about yourself and your views. He didn’t try to win the argument or change your mind, this is very rare with politicians”
Many people have been touched by his kindness and generosity and I hope they will share their memories of him publicly . Here is mine.
When I was young and learning the first things about pensions, I went to a conference in an Oxford college to hear Frank Field speak. I parked my car in the park and ride but was invited to a dinner afterwards that meant I missed the bus back.
I was walking the two miles out of town when a black saloon pulled up. It was Frank Field’s ministerial car, he set me down at the car park saving me the walk.
He was a great person, loved and feared in equal measure but more loved than feared by me.
Once I was drinking with Andy Agethangelou near Downing Street when we spied Frank on his way to #10
“Frank!”
We shouted.
Though he clearly had better things to do, he turned back across the road to shake our hands. This is a similar anecdote to Paul Lewis’
I once went to interview Frank Field when he was a DWP Minister. The only Minister I’ve ever interviewed at his office who came down the stairs to reception to meet me rather than sending an aid. Not because it was me. It was what he did.
— Paul Lewis (@paullewismoney) April 24, 2024
We will miss him greatly and I hope to add to tributes to him on this blog in the days ahead.
Professional Pensions has produced a very good obituary here.
Ros Altmann has produced a moving tribute
When I worked for USS I would often see Frank on the London to Liverpool train. Alway in standard class working with his team.
I remember when I gave evidence in person to the Work and Pensions select committee on allowing women (and men) impacted by the poor communication around the change in state pension age to draw a reduced state pension early. He approached me in the corridor just before the meeting and reminded me it wasn’t all about complex technical issues but about the lives of people. He cared about people and that’s how I shall remember him.
Frank Field was a credit to his race – the human race. One of a handful of MPs I have any respect for.
Sad to learn of Frank Field’s passing. He was a genuine caring person, and used his role as chair of the work and pensions committee to make many things happen. One of which many in the pensions industry will not know about. He was the spark that led to the creation of the now named APPT, the very successful body of professional Trustees.
Back in 2002 David Laverick had been invited by the EMPLSA committee to give a talk about the Pensions Ombudsman’s role. After the talk David approached me and asked if there was a professional body for Trustees. I explained the background to the PMI, and the Trade association for Trusts, but asked why he wanted to know. In a nutshell Frank was on the war path. He had been made aware that he had come across a number of cases where pension schemes were being wound up by so called “independent trustees” who were able to charge uncontrolled fees and expenses on the remaining trust assets, leaving very little for the beneficiaries. Frank had told David that if professional trustees did not get their act together rapidly, he would introduce legislation to regulate independent trustees and their charging.
I was asked by David if I could do something, and I agreed to approach many of my trustee contacts, with a view to creating a professional body to oversee professional trustees. Harriet Maunsell the then Chair of OPRA was informed and supportive, and Frank awaited developments.
The group met secretly a number of times (at PMI’s London office) and despite some opposition it was agreed to form a professional body with the objective of setting standards of conduct and eventually certifying capability, independent of the PMI. It was initially known as the Independent Pension Trustee Group, now over 20 years on the APPT.
I learned a lot from Frank Field. He gave so freely if his time to help others. A very sad loss as he would have been a great contributor to the upper house if his health had lasted longer. Adrian