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Important Message
Sadly Alan Keen died on Thursday 10th November 2011 and will be very much missed by his family, friends and constituents.
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Alan had represented Feltham & Heston since 1992. He first moved to live in Bedfont in 1963 and had lived and worked within a few miles of Heathrow Airport continuously since that time.
Serving the people of Heston, Cranford, Hounslow West, Bedfont, Feltham and Hanworth was his primary duty as MP. During his time in Parliament he served as a senior member of the Select Committee for Culture Media and Sport.
He was also the Chairman of the All Party Football Group.
Remembering "the greatest champion of football in Parliament", Gordon Brown said Alan Keen "was a great, locally popular, dilligent London MP, and a great fighter for local causes.
"He was a great footballer, and a scout for his favourite club Middlesbrough F.C. for eighteen years. Working with Jackie Charlton, the footballers he spotted included Graeme Souness.
"He was Chairman of the All Party Football Group with over 150 members from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, making it one of the largest All Party Groups at the Palace of Westminster and spoke up for the grassroots and fans. He conducted two major inquiries into 'English Football and its Governance'.
"I salute his bravery in facing cancer – fighting it as long as he could - and he will be remembered as someone who taught us how to fight illness. As he acknowledged the NHS could not have done more to be of help and support."
Labour leader Ed Miliband described Keen as a "decent, generous man."
“Alan was Labour to his core – loyal, passionate about social justice and deeply committed to a fairer society," said Miliband.
“A dedicated football fan, Alan continued to play for the parliamentary football team until his illness took hold. He was a great believer in the power of sport to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds make the best of their lives.
“Alan was great friend to me and he will be sorely missed by all.”
Tracey Crouch, the Conservative MP for Chatham and Aylesford. She paid tribute describing Alan Keen as a "genuinely nice man".
Also among those paying tribute are Keen's colleagues on the culture, media and sport select committee. Louise Mensch, a conservative, said she was "very, very sad" to hear of the death of her "good-humoured" colleague.
In his tribute, Alistair Campbell remembered a politician who, when it came to football, "knew what he was on about".
On Twitter, other Labour grandees have expressed sorrow at his death.Ken Livingstone said he was "very sad to hear the news that Alan Keen MP has died. My thoughts are with his family and friends today."
Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman tweeted "So sad about Alan Keen. Deeply committed and thoughtful. Will be greatly missed."
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