This week: a campaigning peer, a voice of football and an environmental activist

THE former Labour minister Baroness Patricia Hollis of Heigham, who has died aged 77, served as a work and pensions minister between 2001 to 2005, and was a former leader of Norwich City Council. She was also known for her work as a historian and campaigner, successfully fighting for divorced women to be able to keep a share of their ex-husbands' pensions.

Born in Devon, Baroness Hollis worked as a lecturer in modern history before serving on Norwich Council in the 1970s and 80s and becoming its first woman leader in 1983. She was nominated for a life peerage in 1990 by then Labour leader Neil Kinnock.

Away from politics, she was the author of several books including a biography of Jennie Lee, one of the first woman MPs.

Baroness Hollis's partner, Labour peer Lord Howarth of Newport, said: "We are hugely proud of Patricia, both as a person and as a politician.

"Her commitment to serving the interests of the poor and disadvantaged was unwavering and powerfully effective. And she was a great champion of Norwich, the city she led and loved."

Labour leader in the House of Lords, Baroness Smith of Basildon, said: "Patricia was fearless in her pursuit of fairness. Facts were her weapons and her deep personal commitment to tackle discrimination and poverty gained wider public attention with her incredible speech on plans to cut tax credits.

"Patricia was also good fun, and happy to give me advice on everything from House of Lords procedure to clothes - advice that was both wise and welcome.

"She bore her last illness with immense courage, and we will all share in the pride of her family for all that she achieved and all that she was."

THE broadcaster Peter Brackley has died aged 67,was best known as the voice of Channel Four's Football Italia.

Brackley began his career with BBC Radio Brighton before switching to television. He worked for ITV and Sky before joining Football Italia, where he worked throughout the 1990s.

He worked at four World Cups for ITV and two European Championships and provided the commentary for popular video game Pro Evolution Soccer before working for Albion in the community in recent years.

Brackley was an accomplished impressionist and provided voices for puppets on the satirical current affairs show Spitting Image. He also featured on Saint and Greavsie, Ian St John and Jimmy Greaves' programme.

Brackley was a lifelong Albion supporter. Brighton chief executive Paul Barber said on the club's official website: "So many of us here at the club knew Peter well. He was a hugely talented, knowledgeable, funny and, above all else, a good man. We will miss him. Our condolences go out to Peter's family, including our colleague and his nephew Paul, and all of his many friends."

THE environmental campaigner and accomplished round-the-world sailor Ian Kiernan, who has died aged 78, raced for more than 40 years and competed for Australia at the Admiral's, Southern Cross, Clipper, Kenwood and Trans Pacific Cup competitions.

In 1986-87, Kiernan represented Australia in the BOC Challenge solo around-the-world yacht race, placing sixth out of a fleet of 25 yachts from 11 countries.

During the BOC Challenge, he became dismayed by the amount of pollution in the world's oceans, including plastic containers and garbage bags. He organised a community event - Clean Up Sydney Harbour - in 1989 in which 40,000 volunteers turned out to help clean up the waterway.

Officials for Clean-up Australia say the day has since spread to about 120 countries.

Kiernan was named Australian of the Year in 1994 and in 1998 received a United Nations Environment Program award for "mobilising tens of millions of people around the globe."