Tributes have been paid following the death of a long-serving County Durham councillor.
A service celebrating the life of David Marshall was held at Mountsett Crematorium in Dipton on Wednesday.
Family, friends, political allies and opponents and members of the Armed Forces came together, filling the chapel of rest and waiting area with people snaking out into the open air.
David, who was 81, lived in Craghead, near Stanley, and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease a few years ago, but died from cancer on July 29.
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North Durham MP Kevan Jones said: “David was a dedicated, hard-working man who spent his life helping other people.
“He was a warm person with a mischievous sense of humour.
“He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and the local community which he served so well.”
David is survived by his loving wife Linda who he met while serving as a councillor at Chester-le-Street District Council.
They met when Linda joined the Labour Party and married on June 16, 1979, at Pelton Fell Chapel.
Linda too would go on to form her own political career, serving as division councillor in Chester-le-Street and going on to chair Durham County Council.
Together they started something of a political dynasty and their eldest son, Carl, born 1980, is now the leader of the County Durham Labour Group.
They also had Adam, born 1982 and Sally-Beth in 1986, who, along with Carl, would provide David and Linda with nine adoring grandchildren.
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The funeral represented a celebration of David’s life, which took David from a lad in Chester-le-Street to a respected pillar of the community in Stanley and Craghead via Zambia, Kenya, Libya and many other far-flung countries.
David was born in Chester-le-Street on February 18, 1942 to John and Elsa. Educated at Red Rose Infants and Juniors, and then Chester-le-Street Secondary Modern.
David began his working life as a TV engineer for Howard Laburnum Stores before joining the Army.
As part of the Royal Engineers based in Kent, he joined a specialist unit with a focus on explosives, heavy lifting, road-making and bridge building.
During his time in the service, he won a skiing medal while serving in Norway, and travelled to France, Kenya, Libya and Zambia during his six years of service.
On returning home, David became an ambulanceman, rising through the ranks to Chief Ambulance Officer over 22 years of service, during which he introduced the paramedic scheme in County Durham.
David also helped run the family printing works business during this time, putting in long hours and tough shifts to provide for his family.
He was forced to retire after a road traffic accident, which destroyed most of the right side of his body saving the lives of his children.
At the time, he was not expected to survive, but eventually he returned home. For five years, David had to use a wheelchair, but through fantastic medical support and his own determination, he learned to walk again.
David was “Sunderland till he died”, a season ticket holder through the years, but it is fair to say he was equally passionate about the Labour Party, of which he was a lifelong member, serving as councillor of Chester-le-Street District Council, Durham County Council and Stanley Town Council, where he was also Deputy Mayor.
Linda said: “David was a one-off. It was family over everything, but he would do absolutely anything for his friends, colleagues, his fellow councillors and his community.
“His passing leaves a huge hole in all our lives, but rather than mourn his passing, we celebrate his life and we’re so thankful to have shared it with him.”
Paying tribute to his father, David’s eldest son, Durham County Councillor Carl Marshall said: “I owe my dad a huge debt of gratitude – he gave our family many great times and happy memories and made sure we all shared the values he held so dearly, helping set all of us up for happy and fulfilled lives.
“He believed strongly in fairness, that everyone should be treated equally.
“He believed people should tell the truth, something he drummed into us from a young age; and he always tried to help other people.
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“When my dad felt strongly about something, he’d dig his heels in and fight for what he believed was right, often to his detriment.
“There were so many great stories about my dad, from incredible professional achievements to his political passions, but for us, the best memories are times spent as a family.
To many he was a serious, passionate, but always friendly politician, but to us he was mischievous and hilarious and kept our family going with humour and quick wit.”
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