Tributes to 'incredibly driven' former MEP

Barry Seal served as an MEP for 20 years

Tributes have been paid to a former Member of the European Parliament from Bradford following his death from chronic leukaemia at the age of 87.

Barry Seal was elected as West Yorkshire Labour MEP in the first direct elections to the European Parliament in 1979 and served for 20 years.

During his time, he secured funding for the city's IMAX cinema and Alhambra Theatre as well as Square Chapel in Halifax.

His daughter Catherine said the father of two, who lived in Bradford with wife Frances, died "peacefully at home with his family and wonderful carers".

Seal was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2019 and was treated at St James Hospital in Leeds before developing acute myeloid leukaemia earlier this year.

His daughter added: "My dad was a real character and will leave a huge gap in our lives and that of many others.

"He was incredibly driven and always looking for the next challenge, whether that be political or personal.

"He was also a family man who said the one thing he would take with him from this world was my mum, and a real fighter, surviving serious illness and many political battles."

Seal leaves behind wife Frances, two children Catherine and Robert and granddaughters Peggy and Ivie

While working in Brussels, Seal secured grants from the European Economic Community's regional fund to help with the £2.4m cost of converting the interior of Wardley Centre in Bradford, which later became the National Science and Media Museum and first IMAX cinema to be installed in the UK.

Born in Halifax, he went to Heath Grammar School before studying for a PhD at University of Bradford and attending the European Business School in France.

He served on Bradford Council for eight years from 1971 where he was also leader of the Labour Group.

After losing his seat in the European Parliament to Edward McMillan-Scott in 1999, he became a keen advocate for the NHS.

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