VETERAN Labour councillor Betty Batchelor from Tavistock was a key guest at the Soho birthday party of former party leader Michael Foot last week.
The town councillor spent most of the evening at the Hussars Restaurant with Mr Foot, rubbing shoulders with acquaintances from the world of politics, the union movement and the press.
Cllr Batchelor, 85, first met Mr Foot in the 1940s. She said his 90th birthday party was a ?brilliant? evening.
?It was marvellous,? she said. ?There were so many people there, from all walks of life ? it was a scream, to be quite candid!?
Cllr Batchelor was invited to make a speech during the party, concentrating on Mr Foot?s early political life in Plymouth.
?I?ve known Michael since 1945, when he first put his name down for Plymouth Devonport. I told them about the early days, prior to going for Ebbw Vale, and why we encouraged him after he lost the seat here. We released him because we said he could do more for the party by going there,? said Cllr Batchelor, who was presented with a copy of a new book of Mr Foot?s unpublished essays.
?Michael signed it and put ?Betty Batchelor stole the show!?,? said Betty, who shares a lifelong passion for Plymouth Argyle with Mr Foot.
Cllr Batchelor, who has watched many a game with Mr Foot, said he was ?thrilled? with the special signed number 90 Argyle shirt, presented to him by the club.