On 12 May 1994, Labour leader, John Smith, died.
The death stunned the nation. His funeral was held in Edinburgh a few days later and he was buried on the ancient holy island of Iona off the coast of Argyll. Politicians of all parties mourned in what was seen as a significant loss to the whole country, and people of all classes grieved for a man who came to be known as a lost leader. John Smith was widely respected for his honesty and integrity. In an age when trust in politicians was diminishing, he was seen as a plain man, sincere in his humanity. He was also one of the shrewdest and most able politicians the twentieth century had seen. A popular, convivial, figure too, he has been much missed in the years that followed.
