Bob Crow dies: Twitter remembers a 'comrade, working class hero, a man who cared'

Described by many as the most effective union leader of our age

Bob Crow, the RMT General Secretary, died in 2014 (Edmond Terakopian/PA Wire)

Bob Crow was a controversial figure, yet despite the slew of criticism levelled at the RMT union leader, both by the media and by Londoners, his death has prompted an outpouring of deference and respect.

At only 52-years-old, Bob Crow’s passing was sudden and unexpected, coming while the leader was still very much a political giant.

Ken Livingstone led the tributes to Bob Crow saying: “He fought really hard for his members. The only working-class people who still have well-paid jobs in London are his members.”

Bob Crow was a ferocious man. As Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union said today: “Bob Crow was admired by his members and feared by employers, which is exactly how he liked it." Most recently Bob Crow clashed with Boris Johnson over tube strikes, in response to Government plans to revolutionise ticketing on the Underground, which means many ticket offices will have to be shut.

Twitter has been moved by Bob Crow's death, remembering his humour, his dedication and vitality.

As is fitting for a leader who saw himself as the voice of the people, here are a selection of the people themselves explaining what he meant to them.