A community advocate who “dedicated his life to making a difference” has passed away at the age of 87.

Stan Davison, of The Greenway, Colindale, was a long-standing campaigner about a number of issues in the borough of Barnet.

He passed away on Saturday afternoon following a two-year battle with ill health, but had been driving until recently and just last week had the latest of his monthly columns published in a local newspaper.

A chairman of the Barnet 55+ Forum, Mr Davison spent much of his life championing local causes.

The staunch Labour supporter regularly lobbied politicians from all sides on prominent issues, particularly the NHS.

He fought a hard but ultimately unsuccessful campaign to save the Edgware General Hospital from closure and was a founding member of the Barnet Older People’s Assembly.

His dedication to community causes led to him being recognised twice by the local authority, picking up two Barnet Council Civic Awards, the most recent this year.

(Scroll down to hear Mr Davison speaking on behalf of the Barnet 55+ Forum)

Tributes have been paid by numerous politicians and community figures since his sudden death over the weekend.

Barnet’s Labour GLA member Andrew Dismore paid tribute to Mr Davison on his website, describing him as “a doughty and effective advocate of the interests of pensioners”.

He said: “Stan was a remarkable man of principle, a local figure who commanded respect across the political spectrum.

“He was a key local NHS campaigner, but that was not the only line he used to beat up on us local politicians. He will be missed by all.”

Julia Hines, chairman of Age UK Barnet, described Mr Davison as “an amazing man” who was “kind, wise and an indomitable force for older people in Barnet.”

Born in Marylebone, central London, Mr Davison moved to Barnet shortly before the Second World War.

He served as a radio operator in the Royal Navy and landed in occupied France, in Brittany – a place he revisited last year with one of his grandchildren.

After the war, the qualified electrician worked at London Transport and BAE and throughout most of his working life became heavily involved in various trade unions.

He married Evelyn, a widow who had two young daughters, and the family lived together in Barnet for the rest of his life.

Mr Davison’s family says it was his caring nature that drove him to act as a spokesman for so many causes.

His step-daughter Sonia Glassbrook, 72, said: “His life was devoted to making a difference. He was a wonderful man.

“He was in regular communication with politicians and people from all walks of life. He would listen to people and was always championing a cause.

“He cared about people, life and politics. He was a believer in fairness and equality, a very caring person and a family man.”

He leaves behind his two daughters, Sonia and Gloria, as well as five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Details of Mr Davison’s funeral will be announced shortly.

Mr Davison speaking on behalf of the Barnet 55+ Forum at the Fremantle Care Workers' rally in 2007