Hundreds of guests gathered to pay their respects to "true giant of the Labour movement" John Prescott - as friends said it was "amazing" how he dealt with having Alzheimer's. The former Labour heavyweight served as an MP for East Hull between June 1970 and April 2010 and also remains Britain's longest serving Deputy Prime Minister, having held the position in Tony Blair's Labour government from 1997 until 2007. More than 300 friends, colleagues and members paid their respects at the private ceremony at Hull Minister.

According to his beloved wife of over 63-years, Pauline, Lord Prescott spent the final few months of his life surrounded by loved ones in a local care home in Hull after she revealed he had been living with Alzheimer's. In a rare photo shared by his family following the announcement of his peaceful passing, Lord Prescott can be seen alongside his wife Pauline, on her 82nd birthday, surrounded by flowers and holding a birthday cake. The photo, which was posted on X, said he had passed away peacefully, “surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery”.

In a statement released after his death, Pauline and sons, Johnathan and David, said that representing the people of Hull had been “his greatest honour”. They also praised the “amazing” NHS doctors and nurses who cared for him following a stroke he suffered in 2019. “We are deeply saddened to inform you that our beloved husband, father and grandfather, John Prescott, passed away peacefully at the age of 86,” they said. “He did so surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery.“.

"John spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment, doing so from his time as a waiter on the cruise liners to becoming Britain’s longest serving deputy prime minister. “John dearly loved his home of Hull and representing its people in Parliament for 40 years was his greatest honour. We would like to thank the amazing NHS doctors and nurses who cared for him after his stroke in 2019 and the dedicated staff at the care home where he passed away after latterly living with Alzheimer’s.".

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was "amazing" how he was coping with the neurodegenerative condition as he was "always praising people". “I’ve talked to John over these last few months when he had declining health,” Mr Brown told BBC Radio 4 in November. “What was amazing was how he dealt with his Alzheimer’s, he always knew who you were but just wasn’t sure what to say.” "It was his warmth,” he added. “He was always praising people.”.

Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, told LabourList last year they were "moved" by how many people wanted to donate following his passing. She said: “It’s tragic how many lives are being lost to dementia, the leading cause of death in the UK. We’re incredibly moved by Lord Prescott’s family, who have asked for donations to Alzheimer’s Research UK, in lieu of flowers. As the UK’s leading dementia research charity, we’re accelerating progress towards a cure, so no one’s life has to end this way.