Africa's finest say farewell to Tayo

It felt more like a State funeral than the farewell to a local councillor.

The African Ambassador's cars lined up outside the majestic Southwark Cathedral. Former Deputy Prime Minister Harriet Harman and a host of other MP's came to pay their respects. African church leaders numbered a dozen or more, and nearly a thousand other well wishes crammed into to the grand cathedral to say goodbye to Mayor Tayo Situ.

It was clear, if ever there was a doubt, that the quiet man of Southwark - born in Nigeria - had touched many by his sense of purpose, humility and passion for social and racial justice.

For me listening to the service it was the tribute made by his son Michael that encapsulated what his father was all about. ‘Life can be hard Son, but you must never give up. Hard work, integrity, and you will succeed'.

His son informed the congregation that his father would take him out campaigning at a very early age. Tayo would comment, 'This is not just for me, it’s for you too'. And he was right. Last year Tayo's son, Michael became one of the youngest councillors in the borough, and perhaps the first time in UK history that an African father and his son were both elected at the same time.

In his son and with many others Tayo's legacy of effective and dignified civic engagement lives on.

Rest in peace.

Simon Woolley