The daughter of a great champion for the disabled and underprivileged is set to speak about her father's amazing life and political career, writes Alice Foster.

Jack Ashley, who lived in Epsom for more than 50 years until his death in 2012, was a highly respected MP and lifelong campaigner for the disadvantaged.

His daughter, Jane Ashley, is very proud to be giving a talk about him to the Epsom and Ewell Literary Society at Epsom Playhouse in April.

She says: "He was an extraordinary man - a great fighter, a stubborn and brilliant campaigner, and a man of enormous compassion who overcame his own disability to help countless others through his campaigns for people with disabilities and the underprivileged. He was a wonderful father and grandfather.

"Epsom was his home for half a century and he had many friends there."

Mr Ashley left school at the age of 14 to support his working class family. He was the youngest ever town councillor and worked as a labourer.

His daughter says: "He was struck by the injustice of the tremendous poverty at the time and became a greater fighter to help his local community."

He went on to become a union shop steward, won a scolarship to Oxford, studied at Cambridge, worked at the BBC and was elected as a Labour MP in 1966.

Ms Ashley says: "He was tipped to be one of the rising stars and within one year of getting into Parliament he had an operation that went wrong and lost his hearing completely.

"It was an incredible blow and yet he managed to rebuild his career. He was such a determined and strong person that he just hung on in there. He had a huge range of campaigns."

Mr Ashley tackled issues such as compensation for those affected by thalidomide, domestic violence and bullying in the Armed Forces.

His daughter says: "He became a great hero for many people with disabilities for the way he carried on and the campaigns he was involved in."

On the night of the talk, she will be joined by her sisters Caroline and Jackie as well as some of his grandchildren.

Epsom Talks! The Life and Work of Jack Ashley MP; Epsom Playhouse, Ashley Avenue, Epsom; Wednesday, April 1; 7.45pm; £10; call 01737 355300; visit www.epsomlit.org.uk