Denis Coe: Labour MP who went on to found British Youth Opera and the National Bureau for Handicapped Students

Denis first came to public attention in 1943 when he was awarded the Scout Silver Cross for Gallantry after he rescued an eight-year-old girl from drowning off Whitley Bay

Denis Coe was one of the MPS who entered Parliament in March 1966, when Harold Wilson increased a working majority of two to a much healthier 96. Though Coe lasted only until 1970, when Edward Heath took the Conservatives back to power, he went on to make a significant contribution to the life of the nation, including founding British Youth Opera.

He was a regular attender at the meetings of the Association of Former MPs until some five years ago, when his health began to fail. I had driven him from the Commons to Euston after one meeting for him to catch the train to Welwyn Garden City, where he lived with his wife, Diana. He was his usual jolly self. But the next day I learned that he had suffered a heart attack and undergone an angioplasty procedure. He recovered after a month or so but was thereafter unable to travel far from home.

Denis and I often gave each other the benefit of our respective views on the state of our party (Denis had joined when he was 21; I joined at 17). Although we lost our seats in 1970 neither of us had left the Labour Party or lost interest in the Commons.

Denis's father, James, who taught physics and mathematics in a Durham grammar school, had won the Military Medal at Ypres and was Labour mayor of Tynemouth and a magistrate; Denis's mother, Lily, was mayoress. Denis first came to public attention in 1943, when the Chief Scout presented him with the Scout Silver Cross for Gallantry after he had rescued an eight-year-old girl from drowning off Whitley Bay.

Before university he did his National Service in the RAF, as a leading aircraftman in Egypt and, like every other National Serviceman, never forgot his NS number. Teaching posts in schools and in polytechnics followed until he was elected to the Commons. He returned to teaching afterwards, sang in choirs and founded the National Bureau for Handicapped Students and the British Youth Opera. His life is told in his book Variety Certainly Adds Spice.

Each Christmas friends received a card showing one of Denis's own paintings. Last year it was of the freshwater Loch Coruisk, a favourite place for Denis and his wife, Diana, who died last year. Denis wrote: "I had decided that I would not attempt my usual Christmas card. After further reflection however I decided to produce one final card as a tribute to Diana and to paint a scene which would recall one of our many memorable walks."

It was his last card, alas, for he died three months later. He leaves three brothers, four children and many friends in politics, education and the arts.

Denis Coe, politician: born 5 June 1929; MP, Middleton and Prestwich 1966-70; married 1953 Margaret Chambers (divorced 1979; one daughter, three sons), 1979 Diana Barr (died 2014); died 8 March 2015.